Posted on 11/07/2003 8:12:15 AM PST by Scenic Sounds
Last week, after I wrote my column on conservativism, I received a considerable amount of mail telling me about the things that I neglected to say. It seemed a common consensus among the Republicans that I spoke too little about specific things like abortion, gun control, and free speech; and too much about general, basic beliefs.
I thought about these comments a lot, and I considered doing a column that addressed these specific issues each in turn – but then I realized that there is one basic belief that underscores and supports conservative beliefs, including all these. As a matter of fact, it is an excellent summation of conservativism.
Conservative people have a moral compass that they, whether they live by it or not, acknowledge. They recognize and believe that all social questions, all government issues, can be traced back to a question of private morality. Conservatives have a strong belief that societies that are governed by people who are in turn governed by a strong moral compass are, in fact, better societies. They believe that a good government, a legitimate government, is one that is based on the conservative principles of justice, honesty, and honor.
This moral compass is what drives the main tenets of conservativism. Citizens with strong moral beliefs are less likely to act for the instant gratification of desires – therefore, they are less willing to advocate frivolous and excessive spending on programs that are unnecessary. They have – or should have – a stronger work ethic and more independent inclinations – and this translates into a desire for a smaller government. They don’t feel that they need a government to take care of them. They are more independent – minded.
This may sound like a general, feel-good statement, but it’s the core of conservativism. Conservatives hold their own to a higher standard. While we expect immoral ( an old fashioned word, but still relevant) behavior from those that we know are not guided by a moral compass, let a conservative commit a crime or even an act generally accepted to be “bad”, and conservatives will be the first to point it out and call them out on it. Think Bill Bennett, and, to a lesser extent, Trent Lott. As a matter of fact, conservatives tend to carry it to the other extreme – their attacks on their own are more brutal than their attacks on those whom they hold to a different standard.
This moral standing – moral compass – is why the conservatives of America want to see less government rather than more. They believe that as government grows, so does its capacity to be corrupt. They believe that government will eventually grow to such a capacity that it will take away the liberty of the citizens. They also believe that this liberty is more important to protect than social norms or social consensus. Barry Goldwater sums this up in this paragraph from his book, The Conscience of a Conservative:
"I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom. My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them. It is not to inaugurate new programs, but to cancel old ones that do violence to the Constitution, or that have failed in their purpose, or that impose on the people an unwarranted financial burden. I will not attempt to discover whether legislation is 'needed' before I have first determined whether it is constitutionally permissible. And if I should later be attacked for neglecting my constituents' interests, I shall reply that I was informed their main interest is liberty and that in that cause I am doing the very best I can."
In closing, while the conservatives of America have their pet issues that they consider to be the nearest and dearest of their ideology, their real defining belief is in the strong ethical and moral foundation that their tenets were originally founded on. All the strong positions on gun rights, abortion, free speech – all can be traced back to moral reasoning. The Constitution itself was originally founded on moral beliefs about the best way a government would serve its citizens. Morality is not just a part of conservativism – morality is conservatism.
Cathryn Crawford is a student at the University of Texas. She can be reached at cathryncrawford@washingtondispatch.com
What, morality?
Just remember that ALL great writers have had great EDITORS. A writer that self-edits will never be great.
Michael
Well, I don't like to view Goldwater's views on abortion or homosexuality as a "sell-out" or as an example of his just playing politics. I just think he had some pretty firm notions about the role that the government should play (or not play). I never understood him to be endorsing either abortion or homosexuality.
Stay Safe !
Not banning abortion is the same thing as endorsing it. Just like it was for slavery. People like Stephen Douglas tried to say they were only for "popular sovereignty" which was more of a code word for the slavery supporters.
I'm not sure I want to start this, but I disagree. Most of us on FR have a pretty similar view of what morality is, but I have an ultra-liberal friend who engages in lots questionable sexual practices, abortion-loving, total atheist, but I would number him among one of the more moral people that I know.
Why? Because he has his set of beliefs, and follows them very strictly. He does not lie, he is good to people, he is a hard worker, he never wants to hurt anyone, I mean, a really good guy. He was raised in a completely atheist household, and so the beliefs he came out with are different.
I just looked it up: mor-al, adj. 1. of, pertaining to, or concerned with right conduct or its principles. 2. being in accordance with such principles.
(I am so going to get flamed for this...)
The assumption we are all making here is that OUR beliefs are the RIGHT ones. I'm just pointing out that somebody who has a different frame of reference for their belief system can still be a moral person.
Would you say the same thing for hunger or poverty?
I wish Congress would agree with this.
And I love your tagline.
I was permanently scarred at the Cecil County Farm Fair. Ooow! My eyes!
Of course not. Poverty and hunger are not deliberately caused things like abortion is. That's why it's no sin to be poor or no sin to be hungry.
Thanks for the great link, Burlem. John Adams was one of my favorite Unitarians. ;-)
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