The Real Difference Between Liberals and Conservatives and What Has Become of the Republican Party

I will try to be brief here, but there is a lot to talk about with this subject.

First, some definitions. One of the things I love about the classes I am taking is that I am finally learning the real definitions of ideologies that are distorted in the media. We read numerous writings of the people whose theories current day ideologies are based upon, including "the father of conservatism," Edmund Burke. He talks about how democracy is a shameful thing, how human beings should fear God, that "the consecration of the state, by a state religious establishment, is necessary," and a person who has will is selfish. Then there's Michael Oakeshott, who is writing in modern times (he died in 1990) and explains in his essay "On Being Conservative," that "to be conservative is to prefer the familiar to the unknown," and "live at the level of one's own means." Not all that bad. But then he goes on to say that change is something that must be "suffered" and that men are not natural innovators. That last bit is quite obviously false. Men are indeed innovators. It comes down to this: conservatives hate change, are afraid of adventure, are loyal friends (his ode to friendship is a bright spot), and don't believe the government should do anything but "administer the rules of the game." No public education, no social programs, no Medicare, no welfare, nothing but a strong currency and military. He does not mention anything about butting into people's bedrooms or uteruses.

Now, while this is the technical definition of what it means to be conservative, I don't think that many people who call themselves conservative actually adhere to all of it, just as people who consider themselves members of Catholic Church do not actually follow all (or even most) of the church doctrine.

After reading these and more authors, I was sure I was not "conservative." I believe in public education. I believe society should care for citizens who cannot care for themselves. I believe that innovation is the important task of man. I believe that democracy (albeit a representative democracy) is the best form of government, and I do not believe that a nation should have an established state religion. These are all tenants of what we currently call "liberalism."

Speaking of religion, this nation is NOT a theocracy, and it is NOT based on Judeo-Christian authority, as so many misguided people continue to spout. The word "God" is used in the Declaration of Independence only as part of the phrase "Nature's God." There is mention of a "Creator" and use of the word "divine." There is no mention of Jesus Christ or Christianity and indeed the writers seem to be deliberately trying to be as generic about a higher power as they could, considering the times in which they were writing. The Constitution makes no reference to God at all, and of course specifically declares that there is not to be any establishment of state religion.

Okay, this is long, but my final thought is this: The Republican Party has strayed too far from the tenets of modern conservatism by embracing the religious right. This is the party, after all, that was formed specifically to fight slavery, yet somehow they are stuck with people who are blatantly racist, and who we all know referred at Barack Obama as a "nigger" at their campaign rallies. Their original platform talks about rights, freedoms, expansion of infrastructure for trade purposes, and equality of all men. The same party that fought for civil rights in the 1960s is now fighting against civil rights. They say they want "save traditional marriage" but make no moves to do anything about the divorce rate or philandering in their own elected officials. All to appease the religious right whose votes they think they need.

European democracies have political parties that embrace religion and run on that platform truthfully. Germany has a party actually called the "Christian Democratic Union." I think the Republican Party should go back to what it means to be a true conservative, with liberty and small government, and let the Christian right here in the U.S. form their own party and stand on their own. If those people want run on their platform of racism, misogyny, homophobia and theocracy, so be it. They will not win in this nation.

I honestly don't know if the name "Republican" has been too tarnished to be of any more use, but perhaps it can be successfully rebranded. This country needs two strong parties, and one should be a true conservative party, not what has become of the Republican Party.