NO....I am not implying you are not a conservative.
Abraham Lincoln was the first President to rule by virtue of "Executive Order", even when his orders were contrary to the Constitution. By destroying States Rights, he started our government down the road that brought us where we are now. Our Government is corrupt, ignores the Constitution, when it thinks it needs to, and blackmails the states into doing it's will.
That is why most of us who decry the treatment of the South, feel the way we do. We don't wish to secede unless we can't reform this country. And most of us still believe the right of secession is still around.
On the home-front a remaining major concern is the severe risks of al-qaida moles simply strolling across the Mexican border, blending in with everyone else illegally entering.
Going back to Lincoln, the nation was being threatened, "Executive Orders" are required in times of civil war. After we were viciously attacked on 9-11 sweeping new laws took effect, and once again, in times of war drastic measure are sometimes an absolute necessity.
In relation to reforming the nation/government. It's tough when the Dems play partisan politics with tax issues and worse, even national security.
The next severe challenge is just around the corner with the upcoming showdown to prevent Iran's wacko terrorist tyrants from using nukes. Yet there are and will be leftist politicians which will throw every conceivable road block directly in the path for resolving the Iranian problem. Meanwhile the enemy is rapidly gaining additional offense nukes.
Domestic squabbling on issues related to the history of the Civil War, regardless of the position anyone takes, in the near future will take a far backseat, once the next counter-jihad phase of the greater Gulf region dominates our country's headlines again.