Principles of Conservatism My Ass
I myself typically do not claim to be of a particular political belief. To do so, in my opinion, is to commit yourself to a specific system over a mode of action, an idea I think is innappropriate. I also do not do it because I see shit like this. Any respectable belief system gets perverted and corrupted beyond recognition it seems, and in this case I almost got too pissed to be able to read it all. I shall now go through this statement of "conservatism" and point out all the bullshit I see.
"1. God's Law Governs Nations as Well as Men."
Unless it's the Judeo-Christian God, in which case you should prostrate yourself before the great cause! Because our (this author's) God is the only right one, which fits perfectly with the foundational conservative (this is real conservative) belief in human imperfection...unless, of course, it's talking about the author, apparently, because his vision of God is perfect.
". . . As the Founders acknowledged in the Declaration of Independence, laws and policies that violate the natural law are abuses of government power that must be resisted and reversed."
O RLY? And that includes the Ten Commandments? As the same author later says, it's all about the original intent.
"2. Life Is the First God-Given Right"
In the name of philosophic principle, our beloved author goes on to fight for pro-life and anti-cloning views. I suppose I don't disagree that forcefully with this, until I read...
..."3. Marriage and Family Come Before the State. . ."
Unless, apparently, the state decides that you no longer have the choice over your religious beliefs or the right to life. This is what we who study logic call a "contradiction".
". . .and Deserve It's Protection"
Unless you're gay, in which case the state will not only protect your family but has a duty to prevent you from achieving your God-given human rights.
"Government has a duty to recognize and protect the family and must not grant alternative relationships the same status and privileges."
Allow me to make a minor addition. "Government has a duty to recognize and protect the family and must not grant alternative relationships [that are families themselves] the same status and privileges [because they are different]."
"4. Freedom of Conscience is the Soul of Liberty
Understanding that freedom of conscience is at the heart of liberty, the Framers protected freedom of religion and assembly in the 1st Amendment. Movements to force the Boy Scouts to accept homosexual scout masters, or to compel religious individuals or organizations to distribute birth control or abortion drugs against their beliefs, directly attack these freedoms."
This is where I almost lost it. The Framers protected freedom of religion, unless you disagree with the author's conception of points 1 and 2. As a whole, freedom to accept only the choices you are given is not freedom.
"5. Private Property is the Servant of Freedom"
"6. Government Dependency is the Seed of Tyranny"
I'll give him those. I mean, I can't just attack everything. That would be cruel.
"7. The Constitution Means What It Says"
But I can't let this go. It makes my blood boil when I hear what I like to call the "Fox News Conservatives" talk about the Constitution being interpreted as is just before deciding that speaking against our government should be illegal. If it means what it says, then don't lecture me on what the hell it should say.
"Believing in the God-given rights of man and understanding the imperfect nature of human beings, the Framers crafted a Constitution designed to protect the former from the latter. Many of the problems in U.S. government would be resolved if the President, Congress and Courts limited themselves and each other to the authority the Constitution actually grants them."
I agree. Now do as you say, and don't tell me anything about how the President has it within his power to tap phones. Also don't tell me about how God's Perfect Law as interpreted by men should be my only law.
"8. Taxes Are Justified Only to Fund Necessary Government Spending"
Defining "necessary" is a quagmire I don't dare step into right now.
"9. National Defense Is Just That
The first duty of the federal government is to defend the American people against foreign enemies. While advancing freedom in the world is good in itself—and, where it prudently can be done, would advance the interests of the United States--ultimately, the mandate for our national leaders is to use whatever moral means they can to carve out that path in our relations with foreign powers that is most likely to lead to enhanced security, prosperity and freedom for this nation."
No...musn't go into Iraq debate...alright. I'll only say this. I agree that defense is just that. I also saw that we never found the WMD's or anything that Iraq could seriously use against us. So, uh, what part of conservatism shone through there?
"10. We Should Strive to Give Our Children a Better Country
America is more than just an expanse of territory or a set of laws. It is a culture, whose art, architecture, journalism, music, movies, television, schools and universities, should reflect and reinforce the traditional values that made this country great. We owe this to our children, who will build the America of tomorrow on the foundation of the America we teach them to love today."
Absolutely. We owe our children freedom, not only to live a good life, but to question that life, to not sit placidly within a rigid set of guidelines set by authors, journalists, bloggers (including myself), politicians, nor anyone else. God's Law is such only if we choose so, and my family is my choice and not yours.
And so that's that. If you don't agree with the rather rushed statement of disagreements I made, fine. I won't call you unamerican, and I won't call you a commie. But when I see this kind of blatant contradictory BS I think it best to say something, because if no one does, this guy might just come to believe we are all on his side, and God/Buddha/The Great Turtle knows that's a ways from the truth.
"1. God's Law Governs Nations as Well as Men."
Unless it's the Judeo-Christian God, in which case you should prostrate yourself before the great cause! Because our (this author's) God is the only right one, which fits perfectly with the foundational conservative (this is real conservative) belief in human imperfection...unless, of course, it's talking about the author, apparently, because his vision of God is perfect.
". . . As the Founders acknowledged in the Declaration of Independence, laws and policies that violate the natural law are abuses of government power that must be resisted and reversed."
O RLY? And that includes the Ten Commandments? As the same author later says, it's all about the original intent.
"2. Life Is the First God-Given Right"
In the name of philosophic principle, our beloved author goes on to fight for pro-life and anti-cloning views. I suppose I don't disagree that forcefully with this, until I read...
..."3. Marriage and Family Come Before the State. . ."
Unless, apparently, the state decides that you no longer have the choice over your religious beliefs or the right to life. This is what we who study logic call a "contradiction".
". . .and Deserve It's Protection"
Unless you're gay, in which case the state will not only protect your family but has a duty to prevent you from achieving your God-given human rights.
"Government has a duty to recognize and protect the family and must not grant alternative relationships the same status and privileges."
Allow me to make a minor addition. "Government has a duty to recognize and protect the family and must not grant alternative relationships [that are families themselves] the same status and privileges [because they are different]."
"4. Freedom of Conscience is the Soul of Liberty
Understanding that freedom of conscience is at the heart of liberty, the Framers protected freedom of religion and assembly in the 1st Amendment. Movements to force the Boy Scouts to accept homosexual scout masters, or to compel religious individuals or organizations to distribute birth control or abortion drugs against their beliefs, directly attack these freedoms."
This is where I almost lost it. The Framers protected freedom of religion, unless you disagree with the author's conception of points 1 and 2. As a whole, freedom to accept only the choices you are given is not freedom.
"5. Private Property is the Servant of Freedom"
"6. Government Dependency is the Seed of Tyranny"
I'll give him those. I mean, I can't just attack everything. That would be cruel.
"7. The Constitution Means What It Says"
But I can't let this go. It makes my blood boil when I hear what I like to call the "Fox News Conservatives" talk about the Constitution being interpreted as is just before deciding that speaking against our government should be illegal. If it means what it says, then don't lecture me on what the hell it should say.
"Believing in the God-given rights of man and understanding the imperfect nature of human beings, the Framers crafted a Constitution designed to protect the former from the latter. Many of the problems in U.S. government would be resolved if the President, Congress and Courts limited themselves and each other to the authority the Constitution actually grants them."
I agree. Now do as you say, and don't tell me anything about how the President has it within his power to tap phones. Also don't tell me about how God's Perfect Law as interpreted by men should be my only law.
"8. Taxes Are Justified Only to Fund Necessary Government Spending"
Defining "necessary" is a quagmire I don't dare step into right now.
"9. National Defense Is Just That
The first duty of the federal government is to defend the American people against foreign enemies. While advancing freedom in the world is good in itself—and, where it prudently can be done, would advance the interests of the United States--ultimately, the mandate for our national leaders is to use whatever moral means they can to carve out that path in our relations with foreign powers that is most likely to lead to enhanced security, prosperity and freedom for this nation."
No...musn't go into Iraq debate...alright. I'll only say this. I agree that defense is just that. I also saw that we never found the WMD's or anything that Iraq could seriously use against us. So, uh, what part of conservatism shone through there?
"10. We Should Strive to Give Our Children a Better Country
America is more than just an expanse of territory or a set of laws. It is a culture, whose art, architecture, journalism, music, movies, television, schools and universities, should reflect and reinforce the traditional values that made this country great. We owe this to our children, who will build the America of tomorrow on the foundation of the America we teach them to love today."
Absolutely. We owe our children freedom, not only to live a good life, but to question that life, to not sit placidly within a rigid set of guidelines set by authors, journalists, bloggers (including myself), politicians, nor anyone else. God's Law is such only if we choose so, and my family is my choice and not yours.
And so that's that. If you don't agree with the rather rushed statement of disagreements I made, fine. I won't call you unamerican, and I won't call you a commie. But when I see this kind of blatant contradictory BS I think it best to say something, because if no one does, this guy might just come to believe we are all on his side, and God/Buddha/The Great Turtle knows that's a ways from the truth.
posted by Derek at 3:03 PM
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