Definition of a Conservative

[MasterOfNone]

To be a conservative is, in my definition, is somebody that believes in the power of the individual, somebody that believes, please let me make my decisions, that I have a right to succeed and not be penalized for it. I have a right to fail and have no one run to me if I don't want them to run to me. A conservative believes I have a right to manage my family, I have a right to discipline my family in the way I see fit, as long as it is not criminal. A conservative believes I have the right to worship God, I have a right to worship the God of my understanding, and I do not have the right to jam my version of God down anybody else's throat or my version of no God down anybody's throat. A conservative believes live and let live. That's what a conservative believes. A conservative believes in the smallest amount of government, the smallest government you can get without anarchy. That's what a conservative believes. (Glenn Beck)

LINK: http://www.glennbeck.com/content/art...icle/198/9949/

I appreciate that not all that pass themselves off as conservatives adhere to this, but I think it is a fair definition of the true conservative. It certainly sums up my stance.

Comments?

[The King Of Peasants]

I definitely have about the same view he does sum it up well.

[Rush Limbaugh]

Same here. I dont want 1 America. What happened to diversity?

[Confederate Jeb]

That guy knows his stuff. Those are things I most certainly believe.

[Rush Limbaugh]

Just noticed that was Glenn Beck. A great libertarian spokesman. I love the guy.

[Shi Huangdi]

Very good definition of conservatism. BTW MasterOfNone, aren't you the one who made the Gods and Fighting Men mod? Great job and it's good to know it was made by a fellow conservative.

[Aziel]

In my definition, a Conservative oppose non-interventionism; A Conservative is hawkish more than dovish; A Conservative is an individualist; A Conservative is a Right-Wing economically speaking; A Conservative wants to preserve some of the current values or laws strictly. Maybe I am wrong regarding the Conservative political theory.

[Chlodwig I.]

Well but that definition of conservativism
sounds strange for the European understanding of conservativism

Conservativism is in my country more understood like upholding christian tradition and trying to keep everything as it was in the good old times
opposing change even if it is necessary, more right wing, and more likely to be a racist.

[Thanatos]

I'm conservative as hell, but I'm not a Republican in any way.

[MasterOfNone]

We use conservatism in the western sense - meaning a classical liberal (a sort of socially moral libertarian in today's parlance).

Thx. Beren - yes, I made Gods & Fighting Men. Glad you liked it. Hope you enjoy the Multi-Mod Sampler, the Dwarven Blunderbuss and (my creme-de-la-creme) Fourth Age Total War too

Rush - yup, I'm impressed with Glenn Beck (though he is a bit whacky at times!). He's a conservative like me, yes, and also, like me, - you may be interested to know - LDS (that's "Mormon" for those who prefer nicknames )

[The King Of Peasants]

Yeah his book is very funny the reason he became a mormon is they were the only religion that specifically outlaw alcohol(he was a horrible drunk). He can be a bit odd but he puts a lot of humor into politics I'm actually going to see his stage show this summer...

[Senno]

That's a good definition.

Since the '70's when abortion became central to the debate the definition of conservatism has been unfairly widened. But I know many pro-life liberals as well. What can I say, I'm in California. Just us weirdos out here.

[Shi Huangdi]

MasterOfNone: I didn't know you were part of FATW--that's another of my favorite mods. Beautiful units and very professional looking. I've often thought you should do a Lord of the Rings-era campaign for it, since the units remind me of Alan Lee's paintings of LOTR. The Middle Earth mods tend to be some of the best--I'm also a fan of LOTR: Total War by Wlesmana.

My favorite radio hosts are Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Mark Levin, and I listen to Bob Grant and Laura Ingraham sometimes as well. Click here for some classic Mark Levin (warning--may be offensive to liberals/looneys/etc.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsrCVevmEzc

[Captain Blackadder]

“To be conservative.....is to prefer the familiar to the unknown, to prefer the tried to the untried, fact to mystery, the actual to the possible, the limited to the unbounded, the near to the distant, the sufficient to the superabundant, the convenient to the perfect, present laughter to utopian bliss.”

That is better definition in my mind also true conservatives should be anti-war btw since that is most definitely upsetting the status quo and leads to huge governments.

[Rush Limbaugh]

also true conservatives should be anti-war btw since that is most definitely upsetting the status quo and leads to huge governments.

Well at least you got something right.

This is conservatism

"We, the members of the New Republican Party, believe that the preservation and enhancement of the values that strengthen and protect individual freedom, family life, communities and neighborhoods and the liberty of our beloved nation should be at the heart of any legislative or political program presented to the American people." We good so far? "Our task now is not to sell a philosophy, but to make the majority of Americans, who already share that philosophy, see that modern conservatism offers them a political home. ... The job is ours and the job must be done. If not by us, who? If not now, when? Our party must be the party of the individual. It must not sell out the individual to cater to the group. No greater challenge faces our society today than ensuring that each one of us can maintain his dignity and his identity in an increasingly complex, centralized society.

"Extreme taxation, excessive controls, oppressive government competition with business … frustrated minorities and forgotten Americans are not the products of free enterprise. They are the residue of centralized bureaucracy, of government by a self-anointed elite. Our party must be based on the kind of leadership that grows and takes its strength from the people. Any organization is in actuality only the lengthened shadow of its members. A political party is a mechanical structure created to further a cause. The cause, not the mechanism, brings and holds the members together. And our cause must be to rediscover, reassert and reapply America's spiritual heritage to our national affairs. Then with God's help we shall indeed be as a city upon a hill with the eyes of all people upon us."

This is how republicans and conservatives win.

How can they say its day has passed and a new conservatism s needed. Thats an oxi moron in itself.

God Bless Ronald Reagan.

[Shi Huangdi]

God Bless Ronald Reagan.

Amen!

[beatoangelico]

It always amaze me how distant are the conceptions of conservatism in the "anglosaxon" world (I don't know either if this term is used in english speaking countries :hmmm and in mainland europe. Here in italy calling someone a conservative is almost an offence, I've never seen our current prime minister Berlusconi calling itself or its party "conservative".

[Rush Limbaugh]

ere in italy calling someone a conservative is almost an offence,

Here in the US calling someone a liberal(even Obama) is a dirty word . They now prefer the term progressive.

[Senno]

They can't hide from us. We see dem liberals. How dare they try to associate with Teddy Roosevelt.

[Shi Huangdi]

You can easily tell the liberals apart from TR. They walk softly, but they don't carry ANY stick at all...let along a big one