The fall semester has begun at the University. From the Church of Consuming Fire on Tuesdays to the protests against Confederate flags before games on Saturdays, many people will express their points of view. I am a conservative – a true conservative – and my view is too many people have very little idea what that really means. Conservatives are NOT the caricatures of racists, sexists, bigots, homophobes and/or fascists as we are often slanderously portrayed.
My purpose this semester is to discuss the issues from the standpoint of true conservatism, not what may or may not be the popular stance with Republicans. In doing so, I hope I can do my part in rekindling conservatism among Republicans and maybe convince my liberal peers that the long list of slurs against conservatives are false. I will begin today by returning to the basics of conservative thought and discuss the major issues in detail in the following weeks.
The most basic belief of conservatism is the use of logical and reasonable debate to form conclusions. Conservatism does not have a monopoly on logical thinking, but I should stress that logic is an important part of the thought processes of true conservatives. Conservatives are often labeled as being “anti-science,” but true conservatives use the scientific method in formulating positions on issues. Just because a few Republican politicians have turned their back on scientific progress does not mean they speak for conservatives, just as Democrats do not speak for all liberals.
There is an important difference between politicians and their associated ideology; ideologues say what they believe, and politicians say what they believe will win an election. Conservatives form their opinions on each issue based on the facts they have gathered, but many Republican and Democratic politicians seem only to form their opinions based on what special interest group they happen to be courting at the time.
The next step in understanding conservatism is the belief in the separation of the proper purpose of government and the responsibilities of society. I have found that this aspect of conservatism is rarely discussed in the arena of ideas, and it is this lack of understanding that I believe has led to many of the false caricatures created about conservatives by the left. We believe in creating a virtuous society fueled by the power of the individual and a limited government, which serves only in a capacity of protecting the liberty of its citizens. We believe that social issues should be discussed and solved by society, not by artificial schemes created by the government. While liberals often think conservatives don’t care about the less fortunate, the truth is we have the same compassion for the poor but we simply have a different way of reaching a solution.
Consider the old proverb that states, “Give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime.” Government programs in the welfare state want to take a direct approach to solving poverty by giving this man a fish every day. The government has ensured that the man can feed himself and his family, but he is still poor. Conservatives believe that the way to solve poverty is to teach this man how to fish.
To solve poverty, conservatism points to more long term methods, such as reforming the education system and replacing programs that give away free money with programs that assist the unemployed in finding jobs. When the man can feed himself and his family without depending on the government, he can finally take the first steps out of poverty. Any assistance he needs can be provided by the virtuous citizens of his community. Conservatism stipulates that true liberty will be attained through independence in a free society, not dependence on a big government.
In conclusion, I would stress the importance of logical thinking and reasonable debate when discussing the issues. Facts do exist in this world, but no single person will ever have all of the facts on any issue. True conservatism can change when new facts present themselves, and I would remind my fellow conservatives that it would be a mistake to become dogmatic. My columns this semester will attempt to apply true conservatism to the issues, and I would remind everyone to keep an open mind.
—-Contact Michael Schouest at [email protected]