The Pillars of Modern American Conservatism

[Lazaran]

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

Hillary Clinton was probably the most capable & qualified of the three (definitely more capable and qualified than Joe Biden) and might have been the closest to your own IDEAL of "conservatism" (though with a clear liberal bent when it comes to genuine forgiveness, tolerance, individual freedom, and CHOICE).



Side question:

What exactly disqualified Hillary Clinton in your Canadian mind? I’m an AMERICAN Democrat, and I found her to be exceptionally / exceedingly capable & qualified - and I campaigned & voted for her without reservations. What did you see from your perch in Canada???



We. Told. Them. So.

 

[phtlc]

What exactly disqualified Hillary Clinton in your Canadian mind? I’m an AMERICAN Democrat, and I found her to be exceptionally / exceedingly capable & qualified - and I campaigned & voted for her without reservations. What did you see from your perch in Canada???

Primarily I find myself uncomfortable with political dynasties, be they Kenedy, Bush, Trudeau or Clinton. Having a famous name should not automatically qualify one for leadership.

 

[Lazaran]

Primarily I find myself uncomfortable with political dynasties, be they Kenedy, Bush, Trudeau or Clinton. Having a famous name should not automatically qualify one for leadership.

See, we’re different in that respect: I just go with capabilities/ qualifications.

Hillary Clinton spent 8 years in the White House and had always been deeply involved in politics.

Hillary Clinton campaigned for Senator of New York State and served admirably for EIGHT YEARS.

Hillary Clinton then served admirably as Secretary of State for President Obama for FOUR YEARS.

Hillary Clinton also helped oversee the very respected Clinton foundation, which helped countless individual (primarily women and children).





We. Told. Them. So.

 

[phtlc]

See, we’re different in that respect: I just go with capabilities/ qualifications.

Hillary Clinton spent 8 years in the White House and had always been deeply involved in politics.

Hillary Clinton campaigned for Senator of New York State and served admirably for EIGHT YEARS.

Hillary Clinton then served admirably as Secretary of State for President Obama for FOUR YEARS.

Hillary Clinton also helped oversee the very respected Clinton foundation, which helped countless individual (primarily women and children).





We. Told. Them. So.

I did not follow either of their backgrounds, just the debates and sound bites (my focus is on Canadian politics)

 

[Lazaran]

I did not follow either of their backgrounds, just the debates and sound bites (my focus is on Canadian politics)

Cool!!!

 

[OralAllOver]

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.

How does killing of US citizens fit into your imaginary indicia?

 

[briancamdudetenger2018]

I did not follow either of their backgrounds, just the debates and sound bites (my focus is on Canadian politics)

there is not much canadian politics threads in the politics board on this xxx forums

 

[Wilson23]

If you really want to know about American conservatism, read the following books by Rick Perlstein (all doorstoppers, all well worth the time):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Perlstein#Chronicle_of_modern_American_conservatism
"Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus"
"Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America"
"The Invisible Bridge: The Fall of Nixon and the Rise of Reagan"
"Reaganland"

 

[Wilson23]

Another good source is "The Right Nation: Conservative Power in America," by John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge.
https://www.amazon.com/Right-Nation...770494712&sprefix=right+nation,aps,153&sr=8-1

 

[nowisthetime]

I wish people would stop calling these magats conservative. They are NOT conservative. They are corrupt hypocritical amoral reactionaries.

 

[OralAllOver]

Short clip

1) Like a medieval army descending from the Steppe, Trump leaves swaths of destruction.
A partial list

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Businesses_of_Donald_Trump_that_went_bankrupt

And forgets; has he ever noted learning from challenges?

2) At this moment much of White House in ruins. Elegant Kennedy Center to follow.

3) Our vital economic links to the world -- subject to TariffsUpTariffsDownTariffsUp -- decimated in service to his narcissism and lust for power.

4) Institutions of science (!). And,

5) International alliances -- the "bones" within our national defense and power -- ground into dust for no sane purpose

His malignancy is underappreciated and looming over us all

 

[YDB95]

I wish people would stop calling these magats conservative. They are NOT conservative. They are corrupt hypocritical amoral reactionaries.

Exactly. "Conservative" has long since (as in, for about half a century now) become a euphemism for "right wing", but they don't really mean the same thing.

 

[Wilson23]

Also https://www.amazon.com/WORLD-TURNED...ld+turned+right+side+up,stripbooks,167&sr=1-2