Re: Conservatism
Kemp went on another tirade accussing Conservatives of this and Justinian is saying crap... it is time to set the record straight.
I am a Conservative. I am not a member of the Conservative Party but I am a Conservative.
What are the beliefs of a Conservative
1) Small Government
This truly means small Government. Our Federal Government should be, in our views, limited to the Defense of our Nation. This means the EPA, Education Department, Department of the Interior and such should be abolished or reduced in extreme levels.
When we talk Small Government we mean it. We don't see the Government as a place for our best and brightest to work, we don't think a big government is efficient, nor do we think the Government jobs do as much as private sector jobs.
2) States Rights
If a bunch of arrogant, ignorant, miscreatants want to install install something at the State level it desires, even though it will destroy their economy and ultimately bankrupt the State... it is their right. If a State wishes to not allow abortions, gay marriage, or allow the NFL to have a franchise in their State... it is their right.
An examination of the States will show Michigan has been hemoraging college graduates who never go back, that California is frequently teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, that New York is losing votes and the rich are fleeing it, and that cities in certain States are also hemmoraging money.
3) Respect Religion
Including Christianity. To often people are willing to respect all relgions except Christianity to which they pile scorn upon as fast as they can. This means we don't want Federal Funds for (supposed) art of a cross made of shit in a pan filled with urine.
Respecting us also means you dont force things contrary to our beliefs upon us. So no Federal or State funds for abortions. This is the most giving nation on Earth, let those who wish to support abortions directly support it while those who revile it can rest well at night.
Some try to say Conservatives push a religious agenda. No... we don't. Those are evangelicals who do that. A Conservative knows the Constitution has set the standard and is happy with that. (This is something Justinian frequently mistakes)
4) Fiscal Wisdom
A Conservative is alarmed at a national debt, alarmed at the Fed, and does not want these things running amok.
We are also aware that the rich generally got rich through effort. There is very little 'landed wealth' in the United States. I am an example of a person born into a poor family, who suffered true homelessness.... and is now earning a high middle wage income. There are hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of such stories.
We believe that jobs come from innovators, from the hard working, from the efficient, the ambitious, from the risk takers. It is not gained by the lazy, the inefficient, the cautious.... my ambition is at least $100,000 a year eventually.
We know taxation is a way to provide revenue for the Government but we also know too much taxation destroys jobs. We also know each lost job is a person suffering, a family making do with less... we don't like unemployment to be high.
5) The Military, Wars, and Conflict
Conservatives admit there is evil in this world, that one evil power will work with other evil powers to gain strength, that small wars are far better than World Wars. This is something no libertarian can or will understand.
Pol Pot rose because no one challenged him. Hitler saw France invade Germany first but the French backed off because they were 'tired' of war.
Evil also fears destruction and will reduce the level and quantity of evil it performs if afraid. We saw this with Ghadaffi, we saw this with Saddam, we saw this in Afghanistan, we saw this in Japan, we saw this in many places.
Unchecked evil begets evil. Yes the United States has been guilty of supporting the lesser of two evils. However to BILLIONS (until recently, thanks O and GW) we are a shining beacon, worthy of emulation, worth enduring hardships to enter, a dream which they could wish upon a starry night of enjoying. Why? Because even when we supported some evil it was in the name of trying to prevent a worser evil.
Even as there are those who call us Amerika, even as there are those who say we are imperialistic in nature, even when people have accused us of wanting natural resources from lands we occupy... we don't, we have not, we will not.
The United States did take lands from Spain back when, from England, from France, from Germany, from Japan.... yes what a list.
We gave up the Phillipines, even with their wonderful location for military bases to a free voting people. We gave up Panama with it's canal... arguably one of the most important water ways in the word... and have left them to govern themselves. American Somoa, Guam, and other American Territories can ask for freedom and would be given it if asked. (This is were some will bring up the South... start a new thread and I will argue with you there.)
Germany, though occupied for some while, was freed and can now choose her own fate. Japan is no slave either. I see no American General dictating policy in Italy nor in Morrocco (which we captured in WWII).
Americans do business in, but only so much, S. Korea which is protected... but not occupied. We left S. Vietnam. What puppet of ours runs France?
Your arguments that we are evil and wrong are proved lies against the stark truths. We are not Imperialistic, we do not fight to make corporations richer, we do not loot the treasuries of captured nations.
So I reject that our wars are unjust, I reject the notion there is no evil in this world, and I, like other Conservatives, feel that unchecked evil can and will grow.
6) Sex
Your business. Keep it that way.
7) Regulations
There are some needful regulations. However there are currently way to many UN-Needful regulations (catch the double meaning). This should never have come about. I dont disagree with, for example, some regulations on drive times, log books, and the likes for commercial drivers.... I do care about mandates of fuel blends, school lunches, hate speech micromanagement, and raw milk fights.
8) Schools
The current system sucks, the Unions are ruining it. At every State level there should be vouchers or the European School System (parents and students choose their school). Tenure should be outlawed, collective bargaining should be tossed...
9) Safety Net, no handouts
If you fall hard a hand up... not something to lift you from your normal situation though.
10) Veterans rights
They were willing to die for us, they knew the risks, some did die, some gave blood and flesh. We have a contractual obligation to treat them after their service is up equal or lightly exceeding the value of injuries and/or of service. Showing we care also helps keep up recruiting numbers which is essential for our armed services.
11) Gay 'Marriage'
We straights had the title first. Find yer own.
12) Racism
We see the blacks who hate whites, the Liberals who are haters of Jews, and the liberal latino's who think they are the maswter race. We deplore it all and any other form of racism.
13) Giving
Conservative Americans have been found to be the most giving, the most willing to donate, the most helpful... In. The. World. Yes we are the best helpers. We don't do it through government mandates. We give it privately.
We feel we can do better than the Government, we feel forced aid to causes we resent is bad, we feel being forced to give at all is not giving but stealing.
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In closing only three others in this forum seem to be Conservatives. Two of them clearly have given up hope on society while one does not try much cause he clearly hates seeing you. Me? Oh I try and try. Every day I see the wrongs of Libertarianism, Liberalism/Socialism/Progressivem/Communism/Fascism, and of tyranny.
I try to educate you so that when your ready for changing... the change comes more quickly and more soundly.
I am a Republican who is a Conservative. I am the change you need.
Kemp currently not being responded to until he makes CONCISE posts.
Avogardo and Noir ignored by me for life so people know why I do not respond to them. (Informational)