[B. A. Conservative]

My definition of a political conservative is one who believes that the unalienable God-given rights listed in the Declaration of Independence form the fundamental foundation of human rights whether codified in US law or not. And one who believes in the strict interpretation of the US Constitution and where anyone believes the Constitution either silent or ambiguous, you should turn to the Federalist Papers for clarification. In my view, it is corrupt for any man to take the property of one man without his just consent and give it to another man. And I believe the Constitution does not confer that power on government. Specifically, I do not believe government can be empowered to take the property of one man and give it to another man except in payment for goods or services rendered. Nor do I believe government can be empowered to be an insurance provider.

[Wolfstar]

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I think yours is a very reasonable definition and is very close to my own point of view. Unfotunately, that nation began a slow decline during the Civil War, and has existed only in vestigal form since passage of the Income Tax nearly 100 years ago. We will never go back to that earlier version of our nation. It just isn't going to happen. So the best we can do is try to hold the line against creeping national and global Socialism.