What Does “True Conservatism” Mean? (http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/what_does_true_conservatism_mean/)




Former Republican Congressman Mickey Edwards has some thoughts (http://blog.oup.com/2008/01/conservative/) on the role of religion (http://us01.xmlsearch.findwhat.com/bin/findwhat.dll?clickthrough&y=53791&x=4JWa9KPI7awa:6RKXB16;8WKSBldExZ37VXYq0W0BMKy9S3M F0ExoBVWEuPknM4iyPbYj0KjFaRKR8Kmyn1kNz13RtciJ8csM8 b1kzSo9LIhqKRLvEojHjosuyy5B6KSzBXd4Mo5HtSvv6czD8ZG O0yd7tLtsQdXJ0bect09MBFtj7P7j4cnUKcvde1pRET$d) in the modern conservative (http://us01.xmlsearch.findwhat.com/bin/findwhat.dll?clickthrough&y=53791&x=I5SHKwB8wvSvQvPfLmziEL3QfSjTHxMpvL7RtL76wi3HY;3r g;SzKBtu2ZHU6AgFBMHQZHzw9SSpyLr9Bf;FIemvyAwya27zQL j:PMzZFj7kg2HgkZBKiwrq;LJFGfCHivlU;fhNKv3yuAwJhLlD FHCipA2mjfmvizk6TbmxrMl:G6uBPPE$b) movement: True conservatives are, above all, believers in the underlying precept of the Constitution, individual freedom. The nation was very deliberately founded without state religion and with an official prohibition against any religious test for the holding of public office. Indeed, whatever their discomfort with parts of America’s social and cultural practices, most of the Goldwater-era apostles of modern conservatism, believed religion to be a private, not a public and certainly not a political, matter. The founding mission (http://us01.xmlsearch.findwhat.com/bin/findwhat.dll?clickthrough&y=53791&x=thWfbSc2n6siN6DNGcaUfaTVWzzCrAY8aaTeZT54SXbMJT5; :2cIM7yyy:obVOz6E;c;oPzotn0qJKa0Rr5EHvyE8W0YS0occH L1vS2RoD7FhafTnG5ybSZQtKp5UFWVYD5w3:yaoF0lw6z0q0dL GT0sSOulO7SNPPsl8038IHmwG)statements (http://us01.xmlsearch.findwhat.com/bin/findwhat.dll?clickthrough&y=53791&x=thWfbSc2n6siN6DNGcaUfaTVWzzCrAY8aaTeZT54SXbMJT5; :2cIM7yyy:obVOz6E;c;oPzotn0qJKa0Rr5EHvyE8W0YS0occH L1vS2RoD7FhafTnG5ybSZQtKp5UFWVYD5w3:yaoF0lw6z0q0dL GT0sSOulO7SNPPsl8038IHmwG) of the leading conservative organizations in the United States – the American Conservative Union, Young (http://us01.xmlsearch.findwhat.com/bin/findwhat.dll?clickthrough&y=53791&x=S1GcTKfYQAx3svQPeBxLX3nbsBN;GAcDQhF5TcQOSv4CUanV Xh9q0aHMmY9BkAPGff9ZBhsvk;3w0l4NfMwvz;dlsYJynK:RBn 0vuGffUK5enhQlL5:8uG0rmKNZ8b9wGHx3Jm58sHkqFkPmfexn Jt33LBrpLYHbeanjDksyGH$BY)Americans (http://us01.xmlsearch.findwhat.com/bin/findwhat.dll?clickthrough&y=53791&x=S1GcTKfYQAx3svQPeBxLX3nbsBN;GAcDQhF5TcQOSv4CUanV Xh9q0aHMmY9BkAPGff9ZBhsvk;3w0l4NfMwvz;dlsYJynK:RBn 0vuGffUK5enhQlL5:8uG0rmKNZ8b9wGHx3Jm58sHkqFkPmfexn Jt33LBrpLYHbeanjDksyGH$BY) for Freedom, The Heritage Foundation – are completely silent on the matter. A commitment to “traditional American values” was added to The Heritage Foundation’s list of important priorities only in 1993, after the rise of a powerful religious right, a full twenty years after the organization was founded.
Americans are a religious people and, Christopher (http://us01.xmlsearch.findwhat.com/bin/findwhat.dll?clickthrough&y=53791&x=MpByUwxsHDkyND5Mffl7atBMxRFRR4GfHvXrutBhOLhOUhOc otqS2fR5RixpmDd6DFXcyvggxDVeqvG5vOwqMbwTqKOupd0AId eGKRw;UMw8iw5w7gX8UFFh1YdJ5KCqyfMi4b6JyLoU7fm8bdw5 z42OOCoHcxwqyvvn2fGzcCViK7q6ph;1xF00K72KUx2SFOfNK7 sa6SqXlMgvdJ$WU)Hitchens (http://us01.xmlsearch.findwhat.com/bin/findwhat.dll?clickthrough&y=53791&x=MpByUwxsHDkyND5Mffl7atBMxRFRR4GfHvXrutBhOLhOUhOc otqS2fR5RixpmDd6DFXcyvggxDVeqvG5vOwqMbwTqKOupd0AId eGKRw;UMw8iw5w7gX8UFFh1YdJ5KCqyfMi4b6JyLoU7fm8bdw5 z42OOCoHcxwqyvvn2fGzcCViK7q6ph;1xF00K72KUx2SFOfNK7 sa6SqXlMgvdJ$WU) notwithstanding, that is a good thing. Religion has fostered empathy and instilled social (http://us01.xmlsearch.findwhat.com/bin/findwhat.dll?clickthrough&y=53791&x=njd3lokmztO35c7kPUmJhgdk6YYPVr9VzP;bxVdoSwg5lMPR tVU1yU5yV1kzytAHUNUH5VOylzPVi4kOq3sfqzTRiUKilgKEIk yA4;L2lYAV;57M3GB9t1iFtk;bVtoztwMe:tihpwA43zyAIkU7 :rdM3YMoVJMflgyj7z86IUFetx22tL51dQTh;qGGIsGO4Lsb4N 7B2496T5;T:sV$Q)responsibility (http://us01.xmlsearch.findwhat.com/bin/findwhat.dll?clickthrough&y=53791&x=njd3lokmztO35c7kPUmJhgdk6YYPVr9VzP;bxVdoSwg5lMPR tVU1yU5yV1kzytAHUNUH5VOylzPVi4kOq3sfqzTRiUKilgKEIk yA4;L2lYAV;57M3GB9t1iFtk;bVtoztwMe:tihpwA43zyAIkU7 :rdM3YMoVJMflgyj7z86IUFetx22tL51dQTh;qGGIsGO4Lsb4N 7B2496T5;T:sV$Q) among many believers. But while we are a religious people, we are a secular nation. To equate American leadership with a commitment to any single religion is a dangerous departure from the constitutional principles which underlie not only American law but American conservatism.

I think that commentary is on target.

As a conservative who is completely secular (I am an atheist), I’ve always felt that while religion wasn’t for me personally it is a generally positive thing in the world. Throughout the history of man (http://us01.xmlsearch.findwhat.com/bin/findwhat.dll?clickthrough&y=53791&x=DQsA;:LyLyDKU1IC58uKhLOHwSo98yKh3LdOmouy3H01tkF4 OsLnVYkV1MifkNXvI:vZKoX3nNKRtLsCuHtoeNUHdX7u3pDi:K iSKKIYFYpWxomN728FlKvmnQWpL5uba2Faw9Kf5YYUuIpJjAuI FkIk3y:yD50R5LFkdpq3N:7aH)kind (http://us01.xmlsearch.findwhat.com/bin/findwhat.dll?clickthrough&y=53791&x=DQsA;:LyLyDKU1IC58uKhLOHwSo98yKh3LdOmouy3H01tkF4 OsLnVYkV1MifkNXvI:vZKoX3nNKRtLsCuHtoeNUHdX7u3pDi:K iSKKIYFYpWxomN728FlKvmnQWpL5uba2Faw9Kf5YYUuIpJjAuI FkIk3y:yD50R5LFkdpq3N:7aH), spirituality has been important. That America was one of the first nations in the history of the world to allow citizens to worship as they please (or, in the instance of citizens like me, not worship at all) is one of the things that make this country great.

So Edwards is right when he says that we enter dangerous territory when we begin to consider a politician’s religion as a qualification to lead. As he notes above, we are a religious society with a secular government. Using religion as a guide when deciding who will lead that government is not in keeping with our traditions of freedom and liberty (http://us01.xmlsearch.findwhat.com/bin/findwhat.dll?clickthrough&y=53791&x=DQsA;:LyLyDKe1IC58kshskCmIL98yKV9kd:Qks:BaI5zLIR pkuo7XFxq2pOSXOCu17z5JRoC3pX8BS4q2RHX80:FJK3ao2Hmk L45K8LGSFVkQ8CLHW;;pLrooWX3RW05SqwgYDsFXk82MKtvLk1 VoC8caSByYUPlK2Zl8CaH).

I definitely agree with you... I especially liked this quote:
But while we are a religious people, we are a secular nation.

I've heard many people make the argument that it's OK to have religion in the government because most people in this country are religious. Not so, if you ask me. :)

That America was one of the first nations in the history of the world to allow citizens to worship as they please (or, in the instance of citizens like me, not worship at all) is one of the things that make this country great.

I commend you for trying to bring respect for the secular perspective to the Conservatives, but I fear you have an uphill battle ahead of you.

"Athiests are neither citizens nor patriots" - George HW Bush

True conservatism in the political arena has little to do with religion. The Goldwater/Buckley conservative (a dying breed, I'm afraid, that I happen to belong to), puts no more or less emphasis on religion than a classic liberal. You have to remember that the "bible belt" was stauchly Democratic until the 80's... when they started to become Republican (I think Jimmy Carter was one of the reasons...lol).

Limited government, states rights, individual responsibility, a strong defense (not nation building), and economic growth was the platform. Social causes were state, not federal, responsibility.

It's funny to watch "groups" swing from party to party over the years. The fundies to the Republicans, the blacks to the party of the dixiecrats, and the middle class swinging back and forth (from a rope?).

Limited government, states rights, individual responsibility, a strong defense (not nation building), and economic growth was the platform. Social causes were state, not federal, responsibility.
Sounds perfect to me!

I commend you for trying to bring respect for the secular perspective to the Conservatives, but I fear you have an uphill battle ahead of you.

"Athiests are neither citizens nor patriots" - George HW Bush

BTW...have you ever explained whether or not an Atheist.?

BTW...have you ever explained whether or not an Atheist.?
SYNTAX ERROR: Incomplete clause, please re-do.

the middle class swinging back and forth (from a rope?).
that about sums it up:(

While it is a great thought to have a complete separation of religion from government.. it is nearly impossible to establish. There will always be religious tremors from the dominant religion of a certain government.

Now, before people go and label me, does that mean I think religion should be 100% involved in government? no. Does that mean I think religious fundamentalists are correct? no. What I mean is that It is impossible to have 0% religious influence in government.. it will always be there. As long as it doesn't dominate... like in most countries... then everything is okay.

I agree, Decka. It's obviously not going to go away entirely. I think that if a good effort is made to keep the separation, instead of just accepting that it's practically impossible, then we should be fine.