Conservativism and Morality (Cathryn Crawford)

The Washington Dispatch ^ | November 7, 2003 | Cathryn Crawford

[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

[Cathryn Crawford]

You know, I like my law professor pretty well already.

[CyberCowboy777]

Goldwaters words from more recent history do not take away from the wisdom of his younger days.

[CyberCowboy777]

Striving for Liberty and Morality always leads to Prosperity.

That is Conservatisim.

[DinoB12]

Your reply is what confuses me about myself. I do not believe anyone has a good reason to be on well fare. I also do not believe homosexuality is something that you are born with and therefore I do not believe in gay marriages. I am not necessarily against abortion and the only reason is because no one going to be able to stop anyone from having sex out of weddlock. So then what happens they have 2 3 or 9 kids and then we end up having to pay for their mistakes. Those kids end up in the public school system and end up starting the cycle all over again. I am a very hard worker and I have never asked for anything from my parents. I am a christian and do my best to live by the 10 commandments. I am also just a man and according to the bible a sinner. How can we cast judgement on anyone else when we are all sinners. And is no sin greater than any other according to the bible. That is the problem I have with labeling myself as a conservative. We tend to believe that our beliefs are always correct and that means everyone else must be wrong. Now I know that I am not a liberal because I do not like what they stand for. But if I am not a die hard conservative. What category do I fall into ??

( Trying to find my way )

[Travis McGee]

Cathryn, you're really a worldly-wise crusty 50 year old writer pretending to me a college student, right? Right?

[Travis McGee]

me = be

[Cathryn Crawford]

Cathryn, you're really a worldly-wise crusty 50 year old writer pretending to me a college student, right? Right?

This is really me. ROFL

[patton]

LOLOL. that is my guess.

Post #48 is wrong - Jefferson said that, not Twain.

[Cathryn Crawford]

You guys are too funny, I must admit. :-)

[Travis McGee]

Wutz fer supper Mom?

[patton]

LOL. Stop posting that damn picture of my little brother!

[Cathryn Crawford]

I can't cook. I'm horrible at it. Someone is trying to teach me, but it's not going well.

[Travis McGee]

Oleg does great work doesn't he?

[patton]

Yes he does. How go the book sales?

[azGOPgal]

You articulate your point very well.
Is your work published on campus?



Please put me on your ping list. Thank you.

[Travis McGee]

I'm going through the blue-line proofs with a fine tooth cobm this weakend, to get rid of those typos. (I even learned to spell aircraft hanger.) The second printing, 2,000 this time, will be ready in about 3 weeks. I'm out of stock for signed copies, and Amazon will be out for about 2 weeks maybe, but there are still some for sale at AK-47.net and at FredsM-14Stocks.com. The second printing was paid for entirely by the first, so I guess it's going well enough. If I keep doubling the print runs every 3 months, I'll be doing okay in no time at all.

[patton]

Y'know, you SEALS are good for something, after all - besides painting the bottom of the boat.

[Cathryn Crawford]

I even learned to spell aircraft hanger.

So said your note! :-)

[wardaddy]

That's great news Matt!

I'm getting low on copies myself.

[ValenB4]

Cathryn - Your brilliance is one of the few voices of reason in a world gone amok. Your writing style is crisp and elegant, with a subtle, yet non-pretentious sophistication that can be appreciated by all, including the many slow thinkers on FR.

My dear friend Sounds - I can only thank you for diligently posting her articles on such a consistent basis. It is often said that those who cannot create brilliance are better served by spreading the words of others. Well done.