The Conscience of a Conservative, Chapter 1, by Barry Goldwater

The Conscience of a Conservative | 1960 | Barry Goldwater

[wideminded]

Barry was brilliant and eloquent.

But not a writer. Apparently the book was actually written by Brent Bozell.

[wyowolf]

I never really knew that much about him as it was before my time. However I read up last night, I was surprised how much he fought the Christian Right, no wonder I admire him...

I’m frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in “A,” “B,” “C” and “D.” Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me?
And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of “conservatism.” … This unrelenting obsession with a particular goal destroys the perspective of many decent people. They have become easy prey to manipulation and misjudgment.

[wyowolf]

The religious factions will go on imposing their will on others unless the decent people connected to them recognize that religion has no place in public policy.
They must learn to make their views known without trying to make their views the only alternatives. The great decisions of Government cannot be dictated by the concerns of religious factions. This was true in the days of Madison, and it is just as true today.