Since that unfortunate turn of events, the Conservatism practiced today has lost its way -- further empowering the federal government while eroding the personal empowerment inherent in the original principles. The label of "Conservative" is confusing now, even to me. And so, I find myself searching for a better way to express my political ideology and the empowerment inherent in it.
"The Seven Principles of Sound Public Policy for Kentucky" is one of the most down-to-earth and concise descriptions of Conservative principles that I have ever read. These principles are simple truths. Read the article in full to truly understand each one. I've quoted these principles (below) directly from the article with my comments in brackets:
The beauty of this article is that each of these principles are not just solid guidelines for sound public policy in Kentucky; they are the principles that should guide sound public policy for the entire nation. These are simple yet elegant truths that guide my political thinking.PRINCIPLE No.1: Free people are not equal, and equal people are not free.
[This is called "individualism" and is more representative of "diversity" than what is preached on the Left.]
PRINCIPLE #2: What belongs to you, you tend to take care of; what belongs to no one or everyone tends to fall into disrepair.
[Ask any parent who loans a teenager his/her car for any length of time!]
PRINCIPLE #3: Sound policy requires that we consider long-run effects and all people, not simply short-run effects and a few people.
[Some people live their lives never planning for the long-run for themselves so this is a tough concept for many folks.]
PRINCIPLE #4: If you encourage something, you get more of it; if you discourage something, you get less of it.
[This is just good common sense often employed in the business world.]
PRINCIPLE #5: Nobody spends somebody else's money as carefully as he spends his own.
[Ask anyone who has ever had a company expense account.]
PRINCIPLE #6: Government has nothing to give anybody except what it first takes from somebody, and a government that's big enough to give you everything
you want is big enough to take away everything you've got.
[This one speaks for itself; if it doesn't, you're not paying attention to your dependencies.]
PRINCIPLE #7: Liberty makes all the difference in the world.
[It has made this country great and we're letting it slip away by not paying attention.]
Goldwater Conservatism is a curious mix of political philosophies (traditional conservatism, liberalism, and libertarianism) -- these are the ideas that I consider the bedrock of Conservatism. To fully understand it, the Heritage Foundation's essay "The Conscience of a Conservative" is a must-read. You may find yourself quite surprised at the ideas and principles of Barry Goldwater; they are an interesting and effective mix.
Here's just a wee snippet of the essay to whet your appetite:
... "While not 'fully ascendant' in the GOP, suggested Will, Goldwaterism made a comeback at the 2004 convention, as evidenced in the 'rapturous reception' of former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, known for their unyielding opposition to terrorism and their tolerant views regarding abortion and gay rights. The reemergence of conservatism with a socially libertarian (but economically conservative) cast, Will wrote, could make the Grand Old Party more appealing to the many young suburban voters among whom the Democrats have made substantial gains." ...And so, I end this evening feeling much better about my choice to call myself a Conservative. No matter how much it evolves into something else, I can always touch home base with these great articles. Remembering our roots is sometimes the best therapy for disheartened Conservatives who need a boost.
(My thanks to the Bluegrass Institute and The Heritage Foundation for providing a badly needed political morale boost this evening.)
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