The Pillars of Modern American Conservatism

[BrightShinyGirl]

its like what happened to them

were they all torchered by a ramsey bolton and he called all of them reek

I’ve never seen Game of Thrones so I don’t know what you’re talking about.

 

[JohnEngelman]

Beginning with William Buckley what has passed for American Conservatism has been a reactionary rejection of the New Deal Reforms.

Unfortunately for Buckley those reforms have broad, popular support, even among Republicans who are not rich.

 

[Sean Renaud]

They think they can use him to get what they want. For some, it’s white supremacy, for others it’s manipulating the stock market. Some of them are angling for pardons. Some of them want to destroy the U.S government. Having a gullible bigoted crook as President of the United States is really useful if you’re a bigot or a crook yourself.

I kinda hope you're correct. Ever since Trump descended down that escalator I've had this scene playing in my head. The only difference here being by the time they figured out what they had it was too late to do anything but go with it. The consequences of changing course are higher than staying it.

 

[phtlc]

The first pillar of conservatism is liberty, or freedom. Conservatives believe that individuals possess the right to life, liberty, and property, and freedom from the restrictions of arbitrary force. They exercise these rights through the use of their natural free will. That means the ability to follow your own dreams, to do what you want to (so long as you don’t harm others) and reap the rewards (or face the penalties). Above all, it means freedom from oppression by government—and the protection of government against oppression. It means political liberty, the freedom to speak your mind on matters of public policy. It means religious liberty—to worship as you please, or not to worship at all. It also means economic liberty, the freedom to own property and to allocate your own resources in a free market.

Conservatism is based on the idea that the pursuit of virtue is the purpose of our existence and that liberty is an essential component of the pursuit of virtue. Adherence to virtue is also a necessary condition of the pursuit of freedom. In other words, freedom must be pursued for the common good, and when it is abused for the benefit of one group at the expense of others, such abuse must be checked. Still, confronted with a choice of more security or more liberty, conservatives will usually opt for more liberty.

The second pillar of conservative philosophy is tradition and order. Conservatism is also about conserving the values that have been established over centuries and that have led to an orderly society. Conservatives believe in human nature; they believe in the ability of man to build a society that respects rights and that has the capacity to repel the forces of evil. Order means a systematic and harmonious arrangement, both within one’s own character and within the commonwealth. It signifies the performance of certain duties and the enjoyment of certain rights within a community.

Order is perhaps more easily understood by looking at its opposite: disorder. A disordered existence is a confused and miserable existence. If a society falls into general disorder, many of its members will cease to exist at all. And if the members of a society are disordered in spirit, the outward order of society cannot long endure. Disorder describes well everything that conservatism is not.

The third pillar is the rule of law. Conservatism is based on the belief that it is crucial to have a legal system that is predictable, that allows people to know what the rules are and enforce those rules equally for all. This means that both governors and the governed are subject to the law. The rule of law promotes prosperity and protects liberty. Put simply, a government of laws and not of men is the only way to secure justice.

The fourth pillar is belief in God. Belief in God means adherence to the broad concepts of religious faith—such things as justice, virtue, fairness, charity, community, and duty. These are the concepts on which conservatives base their philosophy.

Conservative belief is tethered to the idea that there is an allegiance to God that transcends politics and that sets a standard for politics. For conservatives, there must be an authority greater than man, greater than any ruler, king, or government: no state can demand our absolute obedience or attempt to control every aspect of our lives. There must be a moral order, conservatives believe, that undergirds political order. This pillar of conservatism does not mean mixing up faith and politics, and it certainly does not mean settling religious disputes politically. It also does not mean that conservatives have a monopoly on faith, or even that all conservatives are necessarily believers.

First Pillar: Agreed

Second Pillar: While I do not like how we are expected to drop the traditions that we have known just because some people don't like them, I do feel we also need to be willing to evolve

Third Rule: Good for me

Fourth rule: Can a conservative not be an athiest?

 

[briancamdudetenger2018]

I’ve never seen Game of Thrones so I don’t know what you’re talking about.

oh ok

 

[Wilson23]

oh ok

You need to learn to view things through the lens of "Star Trek" in preference to any other media.

 

[briancamdudetenger2018]

You need to learn to view things through the lens of "Star Trek" in preference to any other media.

come to think of it

on the streaming tv show starfleet academy i wonder whos the president of usa

 

[Wilson23]

come to think of it

on the streaming tv show starfleet academy i wonder whos the president of usa

Presumably the United States no longer exists and there is a planetary government.

 

[briancamdudetenger2018]

Presumably the United States no longer exists and there is a planetary government.

imagine the timeline on earth from the 21st century to 40th century in the star trek universe

 

[Lazaran]

First Pillar: Agreed

Second Pillar: While I do not like how we are expected to drop the traditions that we have known just because some people don't like them, I do feel we also need to be willing to evolve

Third Rule: Good for me

Fourth rule: Can a conservative not be an athiest?

And you voted for Trump…





We. Told. Them. So.

 

[Wilson23]

Fourth rule: Can a conservative not be an athiest?

Ayn Rand was atheist -- do Objectivists count?

 

[phtlc]

And you voted for Trump…





We. Told. Them. So.

Why do you assume I would vote for Trump?

 

[phtlc]

Ayn Rand was atheist -- do Objectivists count?

I'm pretty certain conservatives can come from all kinds of religions, philosophies and also atheism.

 

[Lazaran]

Why do you assume I would vote for Trump?

Because you said “we” when responding to another Trump voter (MAGAt) and you self-identified as a "conservative"…



Did you vote for Hillary Clinton in 2016, Joe Biden in 2020, and Kamala Harris in 2024???



We. Told. Them. So.

 

[Wilson23]

I'm pretty certain conservatives can come from all kinds of religions, philosophies and also atheism.

But it is debatable whether something as dogmatically rationalist as Objectivism counts as a form of conservatism.

 

[BrightShinyGirl]

“Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.”

They have no other principles or values.

Conservative say they stand for a variety of things, but they’re lying. They immediately abandon their convictions as soon as they become inconvenient.

 

[nudeblaqgirl]

The first pillar of conservatism is liberty, or freedom. Conservatives believe that individuals possess the right to life, liberty, and property, and freedom from the restrictions of arbitrary force. They exercise these rights through the use of their natural free will. That means the ability to follow your own dreams, to do what you want to (so long as you don’t harm others) and reap the rewards (or face the penalties). Above all, it means freedom from oppression by government—and the protection of government against oppression. It means political liberty, the freedom to speak your mind on matters of public policy. It means religious liberty—to worship as you please, or not to worship at all. It also means economic liberty, the freedom to own property and to allocate your own resources in a free market.

Conservatism is based on the idea that the pursuit of virtue is the purpose of our existence and that liberty is an essential component of the pursuit of virtue. Adherence to virtue is also a necessary condition of the pursuit of freedom. In other words, freedom must be pursued for the common good, and when it is abused for the benefit of one group at the expense of others, such abuse must be checked. Still, confronted with a choice of more security or more liberty, conservatives will usually opt for more liberty.

The second pillar of conservative philosophy is tradition and order. Conservatism is also about conserving the values that have been established over centuries and that have led to an orderly society. Conservatives believe in human nature; they believe in the ability of man to build a society that respects rights and that has the capacity to repel the forces of evil. Order means a systematic and harmonious arrangement, both within one’s own character and within the commonwealth. It signifies the performance of certain duties and the enjoyment of certain rights within a community.

Order is perhaps more easily understood by looking at its opposite: disorder. A disordered existence is a confused and miserable existence. If a society falls into general disorder, many of its members will cease to exist at all. And if the members of a society are disordered in spirit, the outward order of society cannot long endure. Disorder describes well everything that conservatism is not.

The third pillar is the rule of law. Conservatism is based on the belief that it is crucial to have a legal system that is predictable, that allows people to know what the rules are and enforce those rules equally for all. This means that both governors and the governed are subject to the law. The rule of law promotes prosperity and protects liberty. Put simply, a government of laws and not of men is the only way to secure justice.

The fourth pillar is belief in God. Belief in God means adherence to the broad concepts of religious faith—such things as justice, virtue, fairness, charity, community, and duty. These are the concepts on which conservatives base their philosophy.

Conservative belief is tethered to the idea that there is an allegiance to God that transcends politics and that sets a standard for politics. For conservatives, there must be an authority greater than man, greater than any ruler, king, or government: no state can demand our absolute obedience or attempt to control every aspect of our lives. There must be a moral order, conservatives believe, that undergirds political order. This pillar of conservatism does not mean mixing up faith and politics, and it certainly does not mean settling religious disputes politically. It also does not mean that conservatives have a monopoly on faith, or even that all conservatives are necessarily believers.

The four pillars of conservatism are bullshit, horseshit, dogshit and ratshit.

Fuck off and die you fucking moron dipshit inbred hillbilly incel dipshit.

 

[Lazaran]

Conservative say they stand for a variety of things, but they’re lying. They immediately abandon their convictions as soon as they become inconvenient.

The "Moral Majority" (conservatives, allegedly) elected Donald Trump…



We. Told. Them. So.

 

[phtlc]

I

Because you said “we” when responding to another Trump voter (MAGAt) and you self-identified as a "conservative"…



Did you vote for Hillary Clinton in 2016, Joe Biden in 2020, and Kamala Harris in 2024???



We. Told. Them. So.

I'm a conservative voter in Canada, so even if I had wanted to vote for Trump (Which I wouldn't), I am not eligible to vote in US elections. If I were there he would not get my vote.

 

[Lazaran]

I

I'm a conservative voter in Canada, so even if I had wanted to vote for Trump (Which I wouldn't), I am not eligible to vote in US elections. If I were there he would not get my vote.

A "Canadian conservative" opining in a thread about the pillars of "modern" AMERICAN "conservatism"…



Newsflash: The pillars of "modern AMERICAN conservatism" are racism, fascism, misogyny (rape / pedophilia), corruption, and greed - same as it ever was.



Side question:

WOULD you (IF you HAD been American / eligible) have voted for Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris over DonOld Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024, respectively???



We. Told. Them. So.

 

[phtlc]

In 2016 I would not have voted for either. Was there not a third candidate? 2020 Biden, 2024 Harris

 

[Wilson23]

In 2016 I would not have voted for either. Was there not a third candidate? 2020 Biden, 2024 Harris

There are always third candidates, but none since Nader in 2000 has gotten enough votes to matter.

 

[Chernosoth]

Most keyboard warriors are adequately miserable with just projecting their shadows. Here, we have some real overachievers who try to shout down their shadows into silence. That's a doom loop of shouting at echoes. I feel sad for these people, especially the parents.

 

[briancamdudetenger2018]

I

I'm a conservative voter in Canada, so even if I had wanted to vote for Trump (Which I wouldn't), I am not eligible to vote in US elections. If I were there he would not get my vote.

i am from canada too

 

[phtlc]

i am from canada too

Hello to my fellow canuck