What is a Conservative?

[Mr.Canada]

I'd like to start a discussion on what qualities or POV or what have you makes one conservative as opposed to a socialist. I understand their are many branches of conservatism but I don't really want to get into that, just in a general sense.

[Muddy]

I will give it a stab as I see it. I believe that conservatism is the best ideal for man to overcome servitude of the spirit. The way to be the best you can be. To understand that you have certain rights ,but that with those rights one must also accept responsibilities for ones actions. To have a heart and be willing to help those who CANNOT help themselves. That instead of looking to government first to over come an issue we look to our selves. Volunteerism ,with service clubs with in our communities. Thats how we used to get things done. That we strive to not be a burden on our fellow man. To be patriotic to our country. Although we all deplore war,that we understand that mans failure , and that we may in counter those who would wish to take way our freedoms,because of fear religion or ideology. We enjoy the freedoms we have because other men stood and sacraficed to give us the rights we enjoy. We must not drop the torch or fail them. That I should have the right to my property intellectually and things that I have accumulated over a lifetime. These are some of the reasons I am a conservative person. Not as some would brand me,an uncaring person. But one who wants to leave a world better than I found it. By the way ,please forgive grammar and spelling mistakes. I never received a grade school education.We were too poor to have a strong back wiling away in a class room when they could be out contributing to the familys welfare. Best I have for you for now. Thank for asking.

[Yorkness]

A conservative buys the drinks.

[OddSox]

I will give it a stab as I see it...

Quoted for truth.

[Griz]

Quoted for truth.

Shallow, Narrow-minded, uses people, cranky, dollar sign bugging out of eyeballs, worried about money all the time, phoney, kind of like tht guy on the Titanic--the one who had his girlfriend stolen, or, like Scott Peterson

[Muddy]

Shallow, Narrow-minded, uses people, cranky, dollar sign bugging out of eyeballs, worried about money all the time, phoney, kind of like tht guy on the Titanic--the one who had his girlfriend stolen, or, like Scott Peterson

You read that into my post! Please say you were joshing!

[MontyBurns]

Conservatism is natural human thinking and feeling. When a socialist "rebel" is successful in revolution, one would think that they would then be "conservative" themselves.

A conservative is based and content.

A socialist is envious of the conservative.

A conservative is happy with his culture, religion and ultimately himself/herself.

A socialist wants to destroy his/her culture and religion.

A conservative naturally follows free market capitalism.

A socialist tries to change the natural commerce system of humans (usually with not much success).

A conservative is family oriented.

A socialist is not family oriented.

A conservative likes to hang gays. <- just kidding here

A socialist does not like to hang gays.

And so on ...

Edited January 23, 2009 by MontyBurns

[guyser]

A conservative is happy with his culture, religion and ultimately himself/herself.

should read..A conservative is happy defining all of our culture, religion

A conservative naturally follows free market capitalism.

until they are almost broke, then they go for the govt tit.

A conservative is family oriented.

well they like to think they are all the while some of 'em are out whoring around just like the rest

[Mr.Canada]

It would seem to me that a conservative uses his or her own common sense about issues and makes the correct tough decisions whereas socialists are always concerned for ones feelings not to get hurt. Or they may need grief counseling.

[guyser]

It would seem to me that a conservative uses his or her own common sense about issues and makes the correct tough decisions whereas socialists are always concerned for ones feelings not to get hurt.

Considering you are a huge socialist, how do you make peace with yourself?

[LesterDC]

It would seem to me that a conservative uses his or her own common sense about issues and makes the correct tough decisions whereas socialists are always concerned for ones feelings not to get hurt. Or they may need grief counseling.

are we talking about the actual political philosophies or are we only talking about how we feel about them...

[capricorn]

A conservative is a recovering liberal. Unfortunately, many liberals are tripped up by step number 9 which says "the brain is the mightiest part of the body while keeping in mind that if the a**hole doesn't work, nothing else does".

[Moonlight Graham]

A conservative:

1. believes in being self-reliant with as little government intervention in their life as possible.

2. tends to resist change in his/her cultural values/norms.

i think that kinda sums it up for me.

[Mr.Canada]

are we talking about the actual political philosophies or are we only talking about how we feel about them...

Identifying what makes a conservative a conservative.

[Chris in KW]

I'd like to start a discussion on what qualities or POV or what have you makes one conservative as opposed to a socialist. I understand their are many branches of conservatism but I don't really want to get into that, just in a general sense.

Conservative versus Socialist? Keep in mind, in Canada, even "conservatives" tend to be socialist. So it's not really a dichotomy as you suggest.

Also, I get the feeling that "socialist" in your head is closely allied with "commie bastard" or something similar. But I'll try to ignore that and answer your question.

Anyway, conservatives tend to focus on the person as responsible for himself. Self-reliance is the great virtue for a conservative, with work, self-motivation, and personal pride. You could call this "every man for himself", but probably only if you're a left wing loon like me. Anyway, pure conservatism only works very well in an ideal world with 0% unemployment where everyone works as hard as I do.

Socialists (aka commie bastards like me) tend to focus on the community as responsible for its members. The virtues then are compassion (wow, I sound like a real wimp!) and civic-mindedness. Pure socialism only works in an ideal world where everyone works as hard as I do.

The fact is, in reality, a conservative and liberal might approach the same problem, and come up with a similar solution. For example, Conservatives aren't trying to cancel the welfare system, and Liberals aren't trying to shut down the free market.

So.... what it comes down to is that Conservatives are too cheap to provide for the poor and would rather have a few thousand extra dollars in their pockets than pay for the kind of society we all want.

Edited February 2, 2009 by Chris in KW

[blueblood]

So.... what it comes down to is that Conservatives are too cheap to provide for the poor and would rather have a few thousand extra dollars in their pockets than pay for the kind of society we all want.

Uhh, it's not in our best interests to have poor people, that means less customers and is a lag on the economy. Our society has everybody having a few thousand extra dollars in our pockets instead of people punishing us for getting that extra thousand dollars.

A socialist wants to punish success so everyone is in the same boat, a conservative doesn't want to hold anyone back. We ask people to step up, not have our best and brightest step back.

[August1991]

I will give it a stab as I see it. I believe that conservatism is the best ideal for man to overcome servitude of the spirit. The way to be the best you can be. To understand that you have certain rights ,but that with those rights one must also accept responsibilities for ones actions. To have a heart and be willing to help those who CANNOT help themselves. That instead of looking to government first to over come an issue we look to our selves. Volunteerism ,with service clubs with in our communities. Thats how we used to get things done. That we strive to not be a burden on our fellow man. To be patriotic to our country. Although we all deplore war,that we understand that mans failure , and that we may in counter those who would wish to take way our freedoms,because of fear religion or ideology. We enjoy the freedoms we have because other men stood and sacraficed to give us the rights we enjoy. We must not drop the torch or fail them. That I should have the right to my property intellectually and things that I have accumulated over a lifetime. These are some of the reasons I am a conservative person. Not as some would brand me,an uncaring person. But one who wants to leave a world better than I found it. By the way ,please forgive grammar and spelling mistakes. I never received a grade school education.We were too poor to have a strong back wiling away in a class room when they could be out contributing to the familys welfare. Best I have for you for now. Thank for asking.

I can't agree with all of this but I agree with the gist of it.

I might add that conservatives also prefer evolution to revolution. Edmund Burke was a famous British conservative who argued against the French revolution - not because it was wrong but because change is better effected though peaceful steps, mindful of established institutions.

There is also the modern split between "social conservatives" and "fiscal conservatives".

It would seem to me that a conservative uses his or her own common sense about issues and makes the correct tough decisions whereas socialists are always concerned for ones feelings not to get hurt. Or they may need grief counseling.

That's an absurd caricature of Leftists.

Shallow, Narrow-minded, uses people, cranky, dollar sign bugging out of eyeballs, worried about money all the time, phoney, kind of like tht guy on the Titanic--the one who had his girlfriend stolen, or, like Scott Peterson

That's an absurd, baseless caricature of the Right.

I also find ironic that you criticize the Right for having dollar signs in their eyes, always worried about money, when that is precisely what you want the government to take and dole out to others.

And since when is it an act of charity to use someone else's money - obtained through force - to distribute to the poor? The Left's political philosophy (and morality) amounts to Robin Hood.

Socialists (aka commie bastards like me) tend to focus on the community as responsible for its members. The virtues then are compassion (wow, I sound like a real wimp!) and civic-mindedness. Pure socialism only works in an ideal world where everyone works as hard as I do.

Who gets to decide what constitutes "compassion"? As they say, I love the idea of a dictatorship as long as I get to be the dictator.

Chris, your idea of the "community" probably (just by chance, you know, heh) corresponds well to what would be good for you.

Edited February 3, 2009 by August1991

[Chris in KW]

Chris, your idea of the "community" probably (just by chance, you know, heh) corresponds well to what would be good for you.

Ok August1991, you're sounding really smug. I assume you're implying that I'm on welfare or something? Explain your obvious sarcasm!

No one in my family has ever been on welfare, or even EI that I know of. Actually, my wife and I do pretty well, and pay more taxes than about 90% of Canadians. I work for a big company in a professional job. I have a good education, work hard, and get very little from the government compared to most. I suppose you don't have to believe that this is true, but it is.

It would clearly be in my best interest to pay less taxes.

But... (and this is where you probably won't understand what I'm talking about).... I actually think it's a good thing that MY MONEY is TAKEN by the government to support my community.

And unlike conservatives, I don't think of "my community" as people who are just like me (white and well off). I think it also includes people who are having a hard time, and people who don't look like me.

Edited February 3, 2009 by Chris in KW

[charter.rights]

Conservative versus Socialist? Keep in mind, in Canada, even "conservatives" tend to be socialist. So it's not really a dichotomy as you suggest.

Also, I get the feeling that "socialist" in your head is closely allied with "commie bastard" or something similar. But I'll try to ignore that and answer your question.

Anyway, conservatives tend to focus on the person as responsible for himself. Self-reliance is the great virtue for a conservative, with work, self-motivation, and personal pride. You could call this "every man for himself", but probably only if you're a left wing loon like me. Anyway, pure conservatism only works very well in an ideal world with 0% unemployment where everyone works as hard as I do.

Socialists (aka commie bastards like me) tend to focus on the community as responsible for its members. The virtues then are compassion (wow, I sound like a real wimp!) and civic-mindedness. Pure socialism only works in an ideal world where everyone works as hard as I do.

The fact is, in reality, a conservative and liberal might approach the same problem, and come up with a similar solution. For example, Conservatives aren't trying to cancel the welfare system, and Liberals aren't trying to shut down the free market.

So.... what it comes down to is that Conservatives are too cheap to provide for the poor and would rather have a few thousand extra dollars in their pockets than pay for the kind of society we all want.

I would disagree with the basic tenet of your conservative description. The the person as responsible for himself is a myth since laws created under Conservative governments tends more to be more imposing, removing personal accountability and removing more individual power than under a socialist government. While the Conservative movement suggests it believes in less government, the fact is they tend to create more complex bureaucracies even though they might be cutting services.