Are You a Conservative?

http://www.tcsdaily.com/article.aspx?id=061406B ^ | Arnold Kling

[croak]

1. Do you believe that bringing children into the world is a very serious responsibility for the parents?

Taking parental responsibility seriously starts before children are born. It requires self-discipline in sexual behavior. It requires achieving emotional maturity, the ability to make a living, and a solid marriage before having children.

After children are born, you have to spend money, time, physical effort, and emotional energy on them. You have to recognize that your marriage now has a higher purpose.

Most of my friends who have a liberal political persuasion meet these expectations for parents about as well as they can be met. They just do not believe that it is reasonable to hold other people to these expectations. Thus, they support government programs to help people who do not meet these expectations. If you are a conservative, you believe that government support causes more problems than it solves.

2. Do you believe that the flaws and imperfections of human beings are reflected in government?

[Tolik]

Arnold Kling:

...6. Do you believe that the world would be better off if more countries were like America, or not?

Most of my liberal friends have no plans to move elsewhere. Their revealed preference suggests that they agree that America is a great country. However, at the Bradley Symposium, Michael Barone cited a Rasmussen poll showing that close to 40 percent of Democrats in 2004 disagreed with the statement that the world would be better off if more countries were like America.

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My conclusion from all of this is that most Americans try to adhere to conservative values. They prefer to exercise autonomy and to take responsibility for their children, their health, and their retirement. This may explain why California soundly defeated a proposition for universal pre-school.

What is distinctive about liberals is their belief that they are the only people who can exercise freedom with responsibility. They believe that a paternalistic government can make better decisions for those who not in the elite.

Compared with my liberal friends, I have a bit more confidence in the average American. I know that many people make mistakes, but I think that people are somewhat more capable of fending for themselves than is commonly believed. I certainly believe that we are better served by a government that treats people as if they were competent than by a government that treats people as if they were helpless.

Compared with my liberal friends, I think that there are better alternatives than government for helping people who cannot take care of themselves. Private charities, private schools, and other voluntary associations can better address the pathology of poverty.

Unfortunately, the Republican Party under President Bush has not been doing very well on this quiz. On education, health care, and other domestic issues, the Republicans have become a party of paternalism. The people of California had the wisdom to vote down "it takes a village" as a philosophy of pre-school. Too bad that none of the major political parties shares that wisdom.

Nailed It!

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[Lando Lincoln]

Great article, my FRiend. Thanks.

[Valin]

Do you believe that the world would be better off if more countries were like America, or not?


Actually I don't expect (or care for that matter) if other countries are like America or not. All I ask is they don't kill us.
In regards to Iraq, it appears to me that way to many people here seem to think that Iraq is going to look like Iowa, and if it doesn't we've failed. Well it won't, it will look like Iraq.

[Valin]

They believe that a paternalistic government can make better decisions for those who not in the elite.


Can we say smoking bans....speech codes...."mass transit?

[ReleaseTheHounds]

You're right... he nails it!

Point 6 is telling... It reminds me of the great Ronald Reagan always touting "America, that Shining City on a Hill". I wonder if Reagan thought the world would be better off if more countries were like America... Actually, there's nothing to wonder about, is there?

[Diggler]

Heck, conservatives believe in bringing children into the world, rather than killing them before birth!

[ex-snook]

Yeah I'm a conservative. I want to make government bigger and bigger. I want to have entangling relations everywhere [read war] and be the world's policeman. I want tax cuts for this generation so the next generation will love us when they have to pay back by reselling imported goods. [but I want to help inflate the currency so they pay back with cheaper dollars] P.S. Just kidding - I'm not a today 'conservative' cross-dresser.

[Rummyfan]

However, at the Bradley Symposium, Michael Barone cited a Rasmussen poll showing that close to 40 percent of Democrats in 2004 disagreed with the statement that the world would be better off if more countries were like America.

Stunning. I suppose they miss the old Soviet Union....

[nosofar]

Yeah I'm a conservative. I want to make government bigger and bigger. I want to have entangling relations everywhere [read war] and be the world's policeman. I want tax cuts for this generation so the next generation will love us when they have to pay back by reselling imported goods.

A 'compassionate conservative'? :)

[Harrius Magnus]

bttt

[sauropod]

.

[old republic]

The definition of conservative is far more complex than this article makes it out to be. This article ignores the myriad of cross cutting cleavages which may fall under the definition of conservative. You see there are many types of conservative ideology which one may possess or not possess. For example, you have social conservatives, fiscal/economic policy conservatives, legal conservatives (which are people the uphold precedent for the simple fact that its precedent whether they agree with it or not), there are defense conservatives and the list goes on. The truth is the word conservative and the word liberal are loaded and mean 20 different things to 20 different people. This article is incredibly superficial about what it means to be conservative. Besides, I think most people including liberals would agree to the second statement that human nature is reflected in government but that certainly doesn't mean that they are right wing. What do you do when one person views an action as conservative and another views the same action as liberal because of different methods of reasoning?

[Greenpees]

I know that I am not as conservative as many on this site. Nonetheless, I try to vote that way as often as I can, because I'm no liberal.

[DaveyB]

1. Do you believe that bringing children into the world is a very serious responsibility for the parents?
I believe the God has placed the responsibility of raising and discipling children on parents alone!

2. Do you believe that the flaws and imperfections of human beings are reflected in government?
Duh! The heart of man is desperately wicked and deceitful above all else - who can know it?

3. Do you believe that it is better to try to accumulate wealth for retirement or to rely on a pension?
I believe that God has commanded men to work at taking dominion until death. Six days you shall work and rest on the seventh.

4. Do you believe that your health is your responsibility?
Yes, as is chewing my food and going to the bathroom.

5. Do you believe that education is more important than public schools?
I believe there should be no public schools and that discipleship, character and dominion training are more important than education.

6. Do you believe that the world would be better off if more countries were like America, or not?
I believe that the world would be better off if America returned to her Christian roots and sought the blessings of providence from the sovereign God.

[Tolik]

While you are bringing many valid points, I take it that the essential point of the article is that many cling to the Democrat party (and vote for them) when they really live by more conservative values; and keeping voting Democrat works against their own behavior and interests. It implies also that the real divide is not 50/50 like elections show, but more in favor of conservatism.