Rhoads: What is a Conservative?

By Mark Rhoads - 

Many people who visit this site call themselves "conservatives." But do they really understand the true political meaning of that term?

A summary of what great conservative leaders of the past did agree on when they used the term would include first, a love of individual freedom and a rejection of excessive government power.

Second, conservatives admire and support the ideals of American founders. In particular, they love the Constitution of the United States because it was the best instrument to protect our freedom for many decades. The genius of the authors was the separation of powers and checks and balances among three branches of the national government and dividing power again between the national government and the state governments.

Third, conservatives believe in the free-market economy that allocates resources by the free play of supply and demand because it has proven itself to be the most productive supplier of human needs. Free market principles are also the most compatible with personal freedom when they are transparent and  governed by the rule of law.

But when some people use the term "conservative" too carelessly, they might confuse the term with the view that the Left has of what they call "conservatives."  The Left portrays conservatives as selfish and greedy just because we want to save some of the benefits of our own labor to provide for our families.  We think we know best for our own families but the Left clings to different premise.

The Left would much rather have their Leftist elites in charge of the very powerful government and all human activity so they can achieve Utopia on Earth and if you have to give up your freedom for their idea of Utopia, that is just too bad.  The Left pretends that an international perspective rather than enlightened self protection through sensible patriotism is morally superior to what they regard as mindless  "flag waving."  

But it is the Left that is mindless in its slavery to an ideology of collectivism. They want government to be your parent so you will be completely dependent on government for your wants and needs.  They believe in the secular god of government to substitute for the God of Abraham, Isaac, Moses, and Jesus. If you buy into the supremacy of the state over the individual you are most likely not a conservative.