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Line 42: − − Points 2, 4, 5, run obviously counter to the idea that things can ever be perfectly harmonious. Preferring liberty over equality means preferring inequalities in some circumstances. Acceptance of established institutions and hierarchies is obviously anathema to those seeking an organic balance where everyone fulfills their destiny equally and happily. Ditto acceptance of elitism, which is simply the belief that at the end of the day there are some people who are going to be better at a given thing than other people, and education, welfare, and other “interventions” by the state won’t change that. In other words, point 1. As for point 5, this runs against the grain of Hegel-based worldviews that assume that merely ripping pages off a calendar gets us closer to the eschatological kewpie doll at the End of Days. − − All that leaves is point 3, patriotism. Now, patriotism and nationalism are very different things and there are many people on the right and left who think nationalism is definitionally conservative or right-wing. This is nonsense on very tall stilts. Patriotism, however is merely the devotion to a set of ideals, rooted in history, and attached to a specific place. And once again we are spun back to [[Hayek]]. To a certain extent patriotism is conservatism, in the same way that being a [[Christian]] involves some level of conservatism. It is a devotion to a set of principles set forth in the past and carried forward to today and, hopefully, tomorrow. (I wish it weren’t necessary to point out that this is a non-partisan point: Patriotic [[liberals]] are holding dear some aspects of our past as well.) What we call patriotism is often merely the content we use to fill-up the amoral conservatism discussed above. Axiomatically, if you are unwilling to conserve any of the institutions, customs, traditions, or principles inherent to this country you simply aren’t patriotic and, as a side note, the more you think the [[United Nations]] is the savior of the world, the less patriotic you are." − − [http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZWMxNWNiNDJkY2JmNTExY2E1MzdkYWU3MWU1MTBiOGU=]
what I mess I just cleaned up; on the verge of locking this page; others feel free to lock if desired
A '''conservative''' is one who adheres to principles of limited government, personal responsibility and moral virtue. He or she may agree with the statement in 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</ref> Conservatism arose in the 19th century as a response to [[liberalism]], particularly as manifested in the [[French Revolution]].
A '''conservative''' is one who adheres to principles of limited government, personal responsibility and moral virtue. He or she may agree with the statement in 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</ref> Conservatism arose in the 19th century as a response to [[liberalism]], particularly as manifested in the [[French Revolution]].
== What is a Conservative? ==
== Conservative in the United States ==
Jonah Goldberg wrote a piece on this in [[National Review]] Which is quoted, in part, below...
In the United States, conservatives are generally characterized by adherence to limited government, public morality and free enterprise. Specifically, conservatives tend to adhere to the following principles:
* A strong national defense
* Return of prayer in school
* The Second Amendment Right to Keep and Bear Arms
* Economic allocative efficiency (as opposed to popular equity)
* Stronger law enforcement and anti-crime laws, including the death penalty
* Parents, rather than school teachers, educating children about sex
* Choice in education
* Private medical care and retirement plans
* Weakening or cancellation of failed social support programs
* Prohibition of abortion
* Opposition to same-sex marriage licenses
About every 20-60 years a conservative has been elected president of the United States. Examples include:
<br>[[George Washington]]
<br>[[James Monroe]]
<br>[[James Polk]]
<br>[[Abraham Lincoln]]
<br>[[Grover Cleveland]]
<br>[[William Howard Taft]]
<br>[[Warren G. Harding]]
<br>[[Ronald Reagan]]
<br>[[George W. Bush]]
In America, most conservatives tend to align with the [[Republican Party]], but not exclusively so.
== Neoconservatives ==
American conservatives who reject the religious or moral underpinnings of the movement are generally known as [[neoconservatives]], and they offer their own amoral definition of "conservatives":<ref>Jonah Goldberg, [[National Review]] [http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZWMxNWNiNDJkY2JmNTExY2E1MzdkYWU3MWU1MTBiOGU=]</ref>
"In the United States, conservatives are generally characterized by the following beliefs:
"In the United States, conservatives are generally characterized by the following beliefs:
# A belief in established institutions and hierarchies.
# A belief in established institutions and hierarchies.
# Skepticism about the idea of progress.
# Skepticism about the idea of progress.
==Conservatives in the United Kingdom==
==Conservatives in the United Kingdom==