You can break apart that word into so many things:
Social Conservatism
Fiscal Conservatism
Neo Conservatism
Or conservatism in the European sense of restoring a monarchy/aristocracy.
Yeah, well, most traditional conservatives that I know anyway, think there is only one kind. Neocons are not conservatives at all and quite frankly, I don't think those who refer to themselves as "social conservatives" are either. I had been gone from politics for awhile and I remember being really confused when I came back and saw all the references to "fiscal conservatives" and "social conservatives". Then I ran into "neoconservative" and had no idea what that was. But, I knew that nothing I believed had anything to do with the last two (social conservative and neoconservative). As I was trying to figure out what had happened in my absence, I ran into an article by another person who believed as I did. That is when I first heard the term, "paleocon". I finally figured it all out and the rest is history. It really jelled when I read Ron's speech, "Neo-conned".
In a nutshell, this is what I was raised with as the crux of traditional conservatism:
- limited government (adherence to the Constitution)
- states' rights
- fiscal responsibility
- personal privacy
- individual liberty
- strong national defense (not offense)
- personal responsibility
All in all, the traditional conservatives that I know, believe in self-government. But, we do believe that a very limited government has a place, for such things as national defense and to protect the rights of the minority, or the one, against the force of the majority. That said, what we have now bears little to no resemblance to the government that we want.
None of this BS that it's ok to use big government force, as long as it's being used to further an agenda, however unconstitutional, that YOU want forwarded. Because in my book that makes them exactly like their leftist brethren on the other side of the aisle.
As you've been told, I respect the respectable.
