What is Real Conservatism, and why is it so important?

Up to two fifths of Americans describe themselves as Conservatives, and in England that number is roughly the same. The beliefs and principles that relate both the US and UK Conservatives are generally similar, yet any individual definition of what Conservatism means to each person who identifies as such would probably differ greatly. And of course, those who are not Conservative have a very different view as to what principles (if any) underlie its present incarnation.

Those on the Left (who would be happy to identify as Liberal) generally define themselves through a core set of “values”. That these are often contradictory, and in many cases at odds with other groups that describe themselves is Liberal doesn’t really matter, what is important is that when someone says ”the Liberal position” or “a Liberal cause”, the majority automatically identify.

But this is not the case with Conservatives. It doesn’t help that the term is so often used in negative or derogatory ways, because Conservatives are a very broad church.

Did you know that there are scores of tests online to find out if you are a Liberal or a Conservative (I’m not sure why anyone would really need this btw), and after having done several, I seem to fit into a group called “Moderate Conservative”.

Rest:

“You scored 51% which means you are

51% Moderately conservative. You believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values.”

But why should I base my idea of who I am on a multiple choice quiz? My subtleties are almost infinite (not just me of course) and my opinions change as circumstances change. And something tells me that the tests are designed by people who may have a more Liberal perspective.

The Atlantic provides an interesting list of possible “beliefs” that cover a wide range. And whilst some may be more relevant than others, still gives quite a good overview (for Americans only):

An aversion to rapid change; a belief that tradition and prevailing social norms often contain within them handed down wisdom; and mistrust of attempts to remake society so that it conforms to an abstract account of what would be just or efficient.
A desire to preserve the political philosophy and rules of government articulated in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
A belief that it is imperative to preserve traditional morality, as it is articulated in the Bible, through cultural norms.
A belief that it is imperative to preserve traditional morality, as it is articulated in the Bible, using cultural norms and the power of the state.
An embrace of free-market capitalism, and a belief in the legitimacy of market outcomes.
A belief that America is an exceptional nation, a shining city on a hill, whose rightful role is leader of the free world.
A belief that America should export its brand of democracy through force of arms.
The conviction that government should undertake, on behalf of the American polity, grand projects that advance our “national greatness” and ennoble our characters.
An embrace of localism, community and family ties, human scale, and a responsibility to the future.
A belief that America shouldn’t intervene in the affairs of other nations except to defend ourselves from aggression and enforce contracts and treaties.
A desire to return to the way things once were.
Affinity for, identification with, or embrace of Red America’s various cultural cues. (For example, gun ownership, a preference for single-family homes oriented around highways rather than urban enclaves organized around public transit, embrace of country music, disdain for arugula and fancy mustard, etc.)
Disdain for American liberalism, multiculturalism, identity politics, affirmative action, welfare, European-style social policies, and the left and its ideas generally.
A desire to be left alone by government, often coupled with a belief that being left alone is a natural right.
A principled belief in federalism.
The belief that taxes should be lower and government smaller.
The belief that the national debt and deficits put America in peril.
The belief that whenever possible, government budgets should be balanced.
Consciousness of the fallibility of man, and an awareness of the value of skepticism, doubt and humility.
Realism in foreign policy.
Non-interventionism in foreign policy.
And of course some of them are just plain nonsense.

So what is it at heart that really unites Conservatives all over the world? I personally identify as a Burkean Conservative (as in Edmund Burke). His philosophy is deep and wide ranging and may seem almost like home to some of you. Here’s a brief encapsulation of some of his finer points coutesy of Wikipedia:

“That meant limits on the powers of the Crown, since he found the institutions of Parliament to be better informed than commissions appointed by the executive. He favored an established church, but allowed for a degree of religious toleration.[14] Burke justified the social order on the basis of tradition: tradition represented the wisdom of the species and he valued community and social harmony over social reforms.[15] Burke was a leading theorist in his day, finding extreme idealism (either Tory or Whig) an endangerment to broader liberties, and (like Hume) rejecting abstract reason as an unsound guide for political theory.”

If we intend Conservatism of any form to survive, we must examine its roots and what it means in today’s world. We should not let the Liberals define who we are based on one catch-all word. Learn where you political ideas come from and what historical precursors they may have and be better armed to face the liberalism of the modern Liberal.

Conservatives know that life begins at conception.
Liberals believe life begins at birth.

Conservatives judge people as individuals.
Liberals judge people as members of groups—races, classes, etc.

Conservatives believe Islamic terrorism poses the greatest threat to America.
Liberals believe anthropogenic global warming poses the greatest threat to America.

Conservatives wave the flag.
Liberals burn the flag.

Conservatives say, “God bless America.”
Liberals say, “God damn America.”

Conservatives support the death penalty and oppose baby murder.
Liberals oppose the death penalty and support baby murder.

Conservatives see Communists as a threat.
Liberals see anti-Communists as a threat.

Conservatives support the Tea Party.
Liberals support Occupy Wall Street.

Conservatives want to fight crime by locking up criminals.
Liberals want to fight crime by disarming law-abiding citizens.

Conservatives believe that all viewpoints should be tolerated.
Liberals say, “no freedom of speech for fascists”—and “fascists” are all whose views are to the right of George McGovern.

Conservative football fans root for USC.
Liberal football fans root for UCLA.

What is Real Conservatism, and why is it so important?
“Conservatisim” is belief in the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” principle. Thus, the Founders were not conservative in rebelling against the crown. They believed in the possibility, even desirability, of progress. And so, Dear Reader, do you. In that sense there actually are no (or extremely few) conservatives in America.
So American “conservatism” desires to conserve a revolution which instituted equality before the law, and liberty. The purpose of the Constitution is to “secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.”
But note that liberty allows for people doing things In different ways, and doing new things. The American Revolution was in that sense opposition to conservatism. And what passes for American “conservatism” is conservation of the revolution.
The irony is that those who call themselves “liberal” do not much like liberty (for anyone other than themselves, of course), and are much inclined to ground “protection of the environment” on the assumption that progress produces pollution and is therefore dangerous. And people who are relatively sanguine about those risks are called “conservatives."

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