Why am I a conservative? Well, I guess it all began when I was 5 or 6 years old. I was riding in the car with my dad, who was listening to Rush Limbaugh, and after quietly listening for a while I looked up at my dad and said, “Wow, this is my kind of guy!” I might not have understood all the aspects of conservatism at the age of 6, but I haven’t looked back since.
For me, limited government and America’s global role are what make conservatism most appealing. Limited government concerns both taxes and the scope of government. While I realize taxes are an inevitable part of life, I also recognize that the government doesn’t create revenue or profit on its own, it merely reaps the fruits of others’ labors. Therefore, government has an obligation to be frugal with our money and not spend it frivolously.
Regarding the limited scope of government, I’ve been greatly influenced by the philosopher Edmund Burke. Just as all men are flawed, so too are all governments; however, unlike other men, governments are in a far better position to rob man of his liberty. Thus the only way to preserve individual liberty is to keep government as small and limited as possible. To paraphrase Burke, if government was a religion, man would be so terrified by the offerings of corruption and war outside its temple that they would never dare to enter inside.
Finally, I believe it is in America’s best interest to remain the world’s greatest power and use its strength to maintain stability and trade. While it may border on becoming the world’s policeman, our power also gives us the responsibility to aid others and lift oppression where and when we are able.
The sovereignty of the United States belongs to the citizens and government of the United States alone, not to other countries and definitely not to international organizations.
Chris recently graduated from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA with a degree in Government. In the fall, he’ll be starting law school at Wake Forest University.
Well written Chris.. good job!
Great post.
I’m really liking these “Why I’m a Conservative” posts, really cool stuff.
Limited Governement all the way. Nice outlook.
Okay, I know this isn’t supposed to be a comprehensive defense of your politics, but I’m confused about something. Your two “favorite things” about conservatism seem to be diametrically opposed to one another. Please help me understand.
You want a limited government to protect the rights of citizens and be thrifty with the budget. You also want a government strong enough to support the United States as the dominant world power, presumably supported by a large military. (That’s what it takes to be dominant, after all.) But supporting a dominant military requires a big government! One can’t expect China, India, Russia, Japan, etc. to simply relinquish “#1” status because the US asks nicely! Besides, why is it preferable that one nation dominate the others?
This view of (neo)conservatism is a popular one, at least among people I’ve talked to. And I’d go so far as to suggest it’s the philosophy that has gotten us in the trouble we’re in now. Case in point- we’re hemorrhaging money in Iraq (borrowed from China via the trade deficit) while the Bush administration and McCain candidacy harp on tax *cuts* as the budget solution. Unstoppable Force, meet Immovable Object; one of these things has to give.
As to that last paragraph: I assume you would not like it if Venezuela was attacked by a terrorist organization based in Sweden and proceeded to enact “regime change” in the United States as retaliation. Surely that would be a violation of our sovereignty, yes? Well, that’s what we did in Iraq. My point is that respect of national sovereignty is a “you have to give it to get it” thing, and as long as the US is the world’s unilateral policeman, we won’t be giving it.
Lastly, I hope for your sake that some time between age 6 and today you sat down and really grappled with why you believe what you believe (and came up with a reason better than “my dad listened to Rush in the car"). Otherwise, you’re just a circumstance away from being , well, anything else.
Nathan has good points.
When you can’t be critical of what you believe and why you believe it, you fall into hypocrisy. this is the downfall of liberalism. the failing of logic throughout its ideals leads to more socialism and authoritarianism. The lack of science in your own ideals will cause times when you say it’s a gray area. Grey areas need to be near invisible. turn up your contrast please and find right and wrong.