4 criteria for Conservatism as presented in an article by Alfred Regnery in American Spectator: 1)Liberty---To be free of oppressive government power, to be able to participate in a free market, to worship and speak what we believe. 2) The Rule of Law-- A set of equitable and predictable rules based on natural law, and which can't be changed on the whim of a ruler, politician, or judge. 3)Tradition and Order--The norms that have been built over centuries reflect human nature. These include honor and Reason. 4) Belief in a Moral Order (or God)--that transcends politics, establishes limits to our self-importance, and dampens what we think we can do to--or for--our fellow man.
I would argue that the 4th criteria is redundant with the other 3 as liberty, the rule of law, and tradition form a moral order. But other than minor quibbles over the criteria I agree. I would replace both 3 and 4 with Belief in Moral Absolutism-- Fundamental moral truths exist and can be determined through the faculties of human reason. (as opposed to the belief in moral equivalence as championed by the left) In fact, I'd be tempted to define all the criteria in a way that draws contrast with the progressive movement. Otherwise it's silly to say "I'm for liberty" when we define liberty as the protection of our natural rights from tyranny while the left defines liberty as three hot meals and a cot to sleep on (freedom from want).
Because they oppose the free market, believe in the rule of man over law, think traditional values are obsolete, and believe that belief in a higher power is a sign of lower intelligence?
that is the problem with the republican party. They can not come togeather and do a simple thing as define what it means to be conservitive. no wonder Obama doesnt seem shaken or scared about this election. He should be, this was the republicans election to lose and losing is what they are working toward. Right now the only way the republican folks know how to beat obama is to run another liberal against him in Mitt Romney.
Holy crap. This is completely bogus. Under conservatism everyone has to dress the same, think the same, speak the same, act the same, believe the same, or be ostracized, imprisoned or killed. Try speaking freely about other cultures, new ideas, philosophy, science, peace, or anything else controversial under a conservative regime. Just look at Arab countries to see what your society would be like. "Natural Law" is fantasy based on peoples' whims. Conservatives today have no honor, and they completely despise reason. Of course, god doesn't want people to do anything to help others- just sit in your house, count your money and shoot anyone who steps on your property.
Just remember it's important to double tap, one in the head and one in the heart. Amen. I think it's funny the left can't argue against what we stand for so they pretend we stand for something else. What is it about strawman arguments and progressives?
I've asked this same thing myself in another thread. They right wingers don't even know what it means. Just a slogan created to disassociate themselves from George Bush and maintain some small percentage of credibility (or so they would like to think). You always hear that now. 'I'm a conservative...I disagree with what Bush did". Meanwhile, they all quietly kept their mouths shut while "their guy" was in there.
I was talking about you. You can't argue against what we stand for, so you have to pretend we stand for something else entirely.
You could define the differences for us, right? Please do...we tried this before and it went all over the place.
The con movement today is corrupted by extremist right-wing ideology. They now stand for intolerance, intransigence, selfishness, violence, jingoism, parochialism and scientific ignorance. The worst ones are also inbred racists who have dragged the cons even further into the gutter as their leaders and pundits try to pander to that part of their base.
Wow, honestly, I think you are projecting lol... You think conservative is to force others to act in a certain manner? It actually stands for individualism. A whim is not something which had been developed over centuries. Political conservatives are not the same as social conservatives, although the TV tells you so. You cant make money if you just sit in your house. If you could shoot people when they step on your property, then there wouldnt be as many trespassers. I dont think the conservatives are the ones who lack reason
