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| − | A '''conservative''' in American politics is one who adheres to principles of limited government, personal responsibility and moral values, agreeing with [[George Washington]]'s [[Farewell Address]] that "religion and morality are indispensable supports" to political prosperity.<ref>[http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/49.htm United States Department of State] George Washington, farewell address, 1796</ref><ref>Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary has the following definition of conservative: "tending or disposed to maintain existing views, conditions, or institutions : TRADITIONAL"[http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/conservative] Therefore, a conservative Christian would be one that tends to adhere to the doctrines of the early Christianity and [[Judeo-Christian]] values.</ref> | + | A '''conservative''' adheres to principles of limited government, personal responsibility and moral values, agreeing with [[George Washington]]'s [[Farewell Address]] that "religion and morality are indispensable supports" to political prosperity.<ref>[http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/49.htm United States Department of State] George Washington, farewell address, 1796</ref><ref>Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary has the following definition of conservative: "tending or disposed to maintain existing views, conditions, or institutions : TRADITIONAL"[http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/conservative] Therefore, a conservative Christian would be one that tends to adhere to the doctrines of the early Christianity and [[Judeo-Christian]] values.</ref> |
| | [[Image:Aaag.jpg|thumb|Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, is the epitome of American conservatism.]] | | [[Image:Aaag.jpg|thumb|Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, is the epitome of American conservatism.]] |
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| − | == Conservatives in the United States ==
| + | Specifically, conservatives seek or support: |
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| − | In the United States, conservatives are generally characterized by adherence to limited government, public morality and free enterprise. Specifically, conservatives tend to support these policies:
| + | * [[Classroom prayer]] |
| − | | |
| − | * Return of prayer in school | |
| | * Prohibition of abortion | | * Prohibition of abortion |
| − | * Opposition to same-sex marriage licenses and homosexuals | + | * Traditional marriage, not same-same marriage |
| − | * Support of laws against pornography | + | * Respect for differences between men and women, boys and girls |
| − | * Support of the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms | + | * Laws against pornography |
| | + | * The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms |
| | * Economic allocative efficiency (as opposed to popular equity) | | * Economic allocative efficiency (as opposed to popular equity) |
| − | * Stronger law enforcement and anti-crime laws, including the death penalty | + | * The death penalty |
| | * Parental control of education | | * Parental control of education |
| | * Private medical care and retirement plans | | * Private medical care and retirement plans |
| − | * Weakening or canceling failed social support programs | + | * Canceling failed social support programs |
| − | * Generally opposed to the United Nations | + | * No world government |
| − | * Support enforcement of current laws regarding immigration | + | * Enforcement of current laws regarding immigration |
| − | * Support tightening of border security
| + | * Respect for our military ... past and present |
| − | * Respect for our military... past and present | + | * Rejection of [[junk science]] such as [[evolutionism]] and [[global warming]] |
| − | * Literal interpretation of the [[Bible]] and rejection of [[evolutionism]] | |
| | * Low taxes, especially for families | | * Low taxes, especially for families |
| − | * Opening foreign markets to U.S. products | + | * States rights |
| − | * Less power for the federal government and more for local and state governments | + | * Federalism (less power for the federal government and more for local and state governments) |
| | * A strong national defense | | * A strong national defense |
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| − | Every so often a conservative has been elected president of the United States. All presidents combine some liberal and some conservative elements, as well as some policies that do not fit into categories.
| + | Periodically a conservative has been elected president of the United States. In the last 125 years the most prominent conservative presidents include: |
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| − | In the last 125 years the most prominent conservative presidents include: | |
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| | *[[Grover Cleveland]] (1885-1889, 1893-1897) | | *[[Grover Cleveland]] (1885-1889, 1893-1897) |
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| | *The 104th Congress (elected in 1994) | | *The 104th Congress (elected in 1994) |
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| − | Other influential figures in the conservative ideology and movement within the past 125 years include:
| + | [[Movement conservatives]] are those who accept the logic of conservatism across-the-board, and stand up for its powerful principles despite [[liberal]] hatred and baseless ridicule. Movement conservative thinkers include: |
| | + | |
| | + | *[[Phyllis Schlafly]] |
| | + | *[[Pat Buchanan]] |
| | + | |
| | + | Partial [[conservatives]] include: |
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| | *[[Barry Goldwater]] - 1964 Republican candidate, lost to liberal Democrat [[Lyndon Johnson]] but revived the conservative movement inside the GOP | | *[[Barry Goldwater]] - 1964 Republican candidate, lost to liberal Democrat [[Lyndon Johnson]] but revived the conservative movement inside the GOP |
| | *[[Russell Kirk]] - Theorist & intellectual | | *[[Russell Kirk]] - Theorist & intellectual |
| | *[[Irving Kristol|Irving]] and [[William Kristol]] - Notable [[neoconservatives]] | | *[[Irving Kristol|Irving]] and [[William Kristol]] - Notable [[neoconservatives]] |
| − | *[[Pat Buchanan]] - Popular [[paleoconservative]] figure and occasional presidential candidate
| |
| | *[[Margaret Thatcher]] - [[British]] prime minister between 1979 and 1990, held similar views as Ronald Reagan | | *[[Margaret Thatcher]] - [[British]] prime minister between 1979 and 1990, held similar views as Ronald Reagan |
| | *[[Milton Friedman]] - Chicago-school [[libertarian]] economist, influential during Reagan administration; leader of the [[Chicago School of Economics]] | | *[[Milton Friedman]] - Chicago-school [[libertarian]] economist, influential during Reagan administration; leader of the [[Chicago School of Economics]] |
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| | ==US Voters== | | ==US Voters== |
| | In America, most conservatives tend to align with the [[Republican Party]], but not exclusively so. In the 2008 election, 35% of the voters identified themselves as conservatives. Of them, 78% voted for McCain and 20% for Obama, with the 20% accounting for Obama's margin of victory. Only 22% of the voters were liberal; they favored Obama 89%-10%. In the middle were 44% who called themselves moderates. They split for Obama by 60%-39%. (Minor candidates won 2% of the vote.)<ref> See [http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/polls/#USP00p1 Presidential 2008 Exit Poll]</ref> | | In America, most conservatives tend to align with the [[Republican Party]], but not exclusively so. In the 2008 election, 35% of the voters identified themselves as conservatives. Of them, 78% voted for McCain and 20% for Obama, with the 20% accounting for Obama's margin of victory. Only 22% of the voters were liberal; they favored Obama 89%-10%. In the middle were 44% who called themselves moderates. They split for Obama by 60%-39%. (Minor candidates won 2% of the vote.)<ref> See [http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/polls/#USP00p1 Presidential 2008 Exit Poll]</ref> |