Column:

An introduction to conservatism

Explaining the beliefs of conservatives and (true) Republicans

By Eric Hobbs

Published Aug. 28, 2009

As another school year commences, I think the proper way for us to begin our political discussion is for me to introduce myself and explain my understanding of what it means to be politically conservative.

One of the biggest misunderstandings in all of politics is to assume that just because people identify as a Republican or Democrat, they are conservative or liberal. There are many who claim to be Republicans, while believing in liberal policies and vice versa. Just ask Arlen Specter.

When people ask me about my political beliefs, I tell them I am a conservative. Regardless of people like Colin Powell and other pseudo-Republicans envisioning a centrist Republican Party, I remain right-of-center. My beliefs tell me government has grown too much and taken away too much from the people. They also tell me individual freedoms are under assault.

As a conservative, I believe our government has taken the 10th Amendment (all powers not directly given to the federal government shall belong to the people), and tossed it by the wayside on issues like the bailouts, the stimulus and Obamacare. As Barry Goldwater once said when answering what it meant to be conservative, "It is not to inaugurate new programs, but to cancel old ones that do violence to the Constitution, or that have failed in their purpose, or that impose on the people an unwanted financial burden."

One of the biggest reasons I oppose Obamacare is the government would have total control over health care and I seem to have missed the part of the Constitution that made it the government's responsibility to ration out medical services.

Just as Goldwater did, I believe government should be there to defend and protect the freedoms of the American people, not to impose itself in the form of bureaucracies and thousand-page bills.

Rather than a nanny state where the government controls different aspects of your life, a true conservative believes people should have the freedom to do what they want with their money and lives. Rather than force people down a chosen path, we try to guide people towards a path to prosperity, but we will also give people the freedom to choose a path to poverty and hardship. We might discourage people from going down that path, but they should be able to choose for themselves.

Conservatives believe a person should be able to live as they see fit, but we believe also that choices should have their consequences, and corruption should not be bailed out, as President Obama did with General Motors Corp. and Chrysler. Our taxpayer money should not be used to prop up a company because they can't operate their business.

I think a clear difference has emerged in the ideals of conservatives and liberals. To liberals it seems the American dream is accomplished by sticking your hand out and expecting the government to provide for you. The American dream that I, and most conservatives, know is that of hard work and the pride of working your way into prosperity.

I have done the best I can to explain my understanding of conservatism. To me, the biggest difference is conservatives want to preserve and expand freedom while liberals believe they can somehow expand freedom by telling people how to lives their lives. If asked for a simple definition of what it means to be a conservative, I would say that it means to preserve and expand liberty.