Conservatism has rarely had a good name in popular culture. Historically it drags up images of fat, rich, white businessmen, smoking cigars around a board room as they decide the fate of the world, a duty that cannot be left to the common folk. More recently, it has become synonymous with uneducated, ignorant, hate-spewing fear-mongerors who want to make the world into the image of their interpretation of the Bible. The sad thing is that I can't blame people for having such negative views on it. Conservative leaders have shown to put their beliefs over the needs of others. They have been hypocrites about their faith. They have sold themselves as being financially responsible, then going about blowing money worse than their opposition. The only reason so-called Conservatives hold power is because they have embraced the aggressive combative style of playing one group of people against another.
So why do I consider myself a Conservative? Conservatism, at it's core, is about restraint. It's about thinking before leaping and saying "no" when it feels so easy to say "yes". It takes courage to go against the tide of populism. Conservatives should be the voice of caution, not the voice of the obstinate. I don't agree with a lot that modern Conservatives believe, but that's because they have twisted the ideology to something it was never meant to be. Just like most Christians don't simply stop believing because people like the Westboro Baptist Church give their faith a black eye. But like those Christians, it is my responsibility to defend the political values of genuine Conservatism from the poisoning it has gone through over the course of the last two decades, specifically.
I was brought into Conservatism by my father when I was in my teens. I won't lie, I listened to the likes of Rush Limbaugh and red-state talk radio. In Texas, my home state, Conservative has always been synonymous with righteous and Liberal as outright evil. I fell into that trap. The problem was that I had a hard time connecting those ideals to my Christian beliefs, which in itself are quite unique. So I looked towards the Left, towards Libertarianism, towards other political systems.
When 9/11 occurred, I firmly believed that the Republicans would be able to show restraint and clear-headed thinking. I was proven wrong almost immediately. The first nail in my disillusionment of the Republican Party came from the Patriot Act, which I saw as an immediate threat to civil liberties as well as a gateway to increasing the powers of the government. From there it got worse. When they started talking about Iraq, I listened but hesitant. The proof wasn't on their side. But then Colin Powell, one of my most respected individuals, sold me on the war. When that showed to be untrue, I could no longer be a part of this ruse. When I said as much, my Republican friends were quick to kick me out.
The consolidation of Conservative voices through places like Fox News and talk radio started to take a very creepy vibe at that point. Dissent was tantamount to treason. Dissenters, not just me, were all being thrown off the bus. One of those voices was Andrew Sullivan, who showed me that Conservatism isn't a label that others get to put on you, but one that you can label yourself. That even people from other ideology could be right, that Conservatism isn't a restrictive creed, but a fluid and ever-changing ideology that while shows restraint in flowing is still moving forward. That those who refuse to move aren't Conservative at all.
So what are my beliefs? I believe that states are better positioned to understand the needs of their territory better than the federal government, but that the federal government is important in ensuring equality in justice for all. I believe in a limited effective government presence in the lives of citizens, that the public sector have the responsibility to protect and promote the public trust, the bond between citizens and their government. That the private sector has a responsibility to remain engaged in public policy and to elect representatives that will take their jobs seriously. That citizens don't get to pick and choose the laws they want to follow, even if they don't personally agree with it. If you don't like a law, change it! All things are not all equal, but that we must make the law more effective to create equality. I don't believe in redistribution, but with wealth comes responsibility. I believe in reasonable taxation depending on the needs of the country. Morality is not synonymous with religion. Facts do matter. Science is real. American History is exceptional, but it's not without a great deal of pain and regretful actions. Americans are not a race. America is a global ideal and we should embrace it and those who believe that are not us.
I'm not interested in talking about the way America should be. I'm not out to put our nation down either. I want to think about us as a nation. I want to contemplate our actions and what options we have. I will criticize both parties, but especially the Republicans because I believe in them more and I believe that they are capable of being better. I will try to keep from talking smack, instead trying to be more constructive. Those who interfere with that constructive dialogue will be put on notice.
So if you're interested in following along, here we go!
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