The Essence of Conservatism
This is an excerpt of an excellent article on the foundation of Conservatism by Doug TenNapel that comes to us via Breitbart’s Big Hollywood.
If Republican leadership in Washington can’t clearly articulate our platform I doubt that the opposition is going to get it right. Let me offer a few ideas that might help show a method to our manliness; we believe that entities have an essence. That already sounds fancy and horrible, but let me unpack it to make my case.
To conserve implies that something important is being lost that is worth holding on to. It’s also why we aren’t terribly interested in future utopias, new forms we can evolve into, we don’t dream a lot because there can be no hope for the future if the true things of the past are rejected or forgotten. So something must be conserved for there to be conservatism.
It’s well worth reading insofar as it lays the foundation for our political philosophy.
The comments, however, are not worth your time. Most of them anyway, there are a few good ones.
Just thought you should know.
*eats*
That is true. We are being forced into accepting issues that we stand against. There is no dreaming lately. I guess Freddy was able to kill them. Now we have The One that will surely kill our dreams. I still dream, and I still have hope. But it is diminishing day by day. I booked marked the article, am getting ready for work.
Well, let me post this for the first time here:
…though I should probably get around to writing up more detailed descriptions of each.
Come to think of it, I’m not so sure if these are conservative principles so much as American principles.
Managed to find something AWESOME in the comments section amidst all the drivel (yes, yes, I’m a glutton for punishment):
From Russel Kirk
Might make a good article all on its own, Manly.
*eats*
The definition of “conservative” as detailed in the dictionary is what is killing us here guys and gals.
Manly, you and I had this conversation before and I still maintain that we HAVE TO CHANGE THIS somehow.
Something has to give here in the emotional/intellectual definition of “conservative” and “republican” as viewed by the young malleable masses here, or we are going to lose them…. oh that’s right.. we already are.
Since I am a glutton for punishment, I looked it up:
Conservative
*eats*
Sad, the silly dictionary broke the number one rule of definitions: “Don’t use the word you’re defining in its own definition.”
*eats*
What is the existing condition of the Conservative or Republican party?
That’s out problem folks… as painted by the media that is.
Why else did Bambi become so successful with the “change” mantra?
Well… (to be redundant here), because the majority of people thought, that, the existing condition is not good enough….!!
And why did they think, that, the existing condition is not good enough?
That’s the real question folks…
In addition (to my last post), the definition of “Liberal” as painted by the media, is also twisted by the same hucksters.
Our “Conservative” Republic as established by our founding fathers, provides more liberty than the Liberals’ philosophy does!!
Slightly OT but I can’t help but go looking when Manly links to Bighollywood: Idiossey - Iowahawk’s Ballad of Obamacles
@Mad Dog: That about sums it up.
*eats*