It appears that we each have different views of "conservatism"...and that is undoubtedly where disagreements arise. Some folks interpret conservatism as purely a constitutional question..adhereing to the Constitution, especially where state's rights are concerned. I agree with that and readily recognize where the feds have performed"power grabs" over the years. Part of conservatism is to do our best to assure that such power grabs do not succeed..in either direction.
Myself and many others I am sure, view conservatism as being much more comprehensive than just that narrow view.
Webster's Collegiate says this about conservatism:
1) A disposition in politics to preserve what is established. 2) A political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, stressing established institutions, and preferring gradual development to abrupt change.
Being a watchdog for the Constitution is an important part of being a conservative, but (IMO) protecting and preserving the institutions and practices that made our nation great for the first 200 years, should better assure that we may remain a great nation for the next 200 years..
As we study the scene of the our history for the last 350 years, we found that certain things worked very well, and I for one (and many others), see no reason for changing such institutions. No real conservative is quick to "throw the baby out with the bathwater", as many liberals are inclined to do.
Some typical things that have traditionally described "Americans"..and should be preserved for the good of the nation.
1) Individualism, operation within the acceptable constraints of polite society (as demonstrated for the first couple centuries).
2) Respect for the Constitution and the rights contained therein; any citizen should view his "civil responsibilities"..just a firmly as he clings to his "civil rights".
Example of "civil responsibilities"..Defending and helping less fortunate or infirm, defending our nation against aggressors, maintaining traditions that have made this nation great (e.g. interwoven faith, normal family as basic building foundation of society etc.)
3) A healthy respect for decent, peace promoting faiths. No denomination or group should hold any position of authority over others, but a general reverence for
God as the Creator/Sustainer of all that is..has guided our nation for it's first two very dynamic, centuries.
4) A common language makes for a common people with common aims (e.g. helps to create and sustain a culture). Look at any nation of the past..
When nations were formed , they were usually framed by a couple factors ..common language, traditions and geographic barriers, such as mountain ranges, rivers,
lakes or oceans and alliances of tribes sharing common virtues (or lack of them).
We should maintain a common language, common aims for our nation and "common sense" in dealing with any of these issues.
Having command of a second or third language is good..but as a nation we should do all commerce and social conduct inone language. Many of our forefathers, including signers to the Constitution were multi-lingual..but after some debater proved they had wisdom enough to settle upon ONE language..English.
"Multiculturalism" is a divider and a curse..no person with a smattering of gray matter should fall for that Trojan horse !!
5) Conservatism means preserving our heritage, whether it be in the sport of hunting, the churches operating honorably in the town square, the ice cream social,
families composed of a married man & woman and children (as God provides). frowning upon immoral practices that we have learned through the centuries to be destructive for any society..
6) A conservative should also be an avid historian..we can review history and find what was detrimental and keep those elements to a minimum.
Historically we know that such things as pedophilia, slavery, homosexuality , drug addiction, rebellious groups, criminal gangs and a myriad of other things can and
have, destroyed other cultures. We must work to educate, legislate and/or discourage these unhealthy things from prospering.
7) Conservative means having a healthy respect for our environment..but not going so nutty about it, that we throw out the baby with the bath water..
Conservative means that the Constitution is not a "living document"..meant to be read and interpreted in whatever convoluted, biased way any splinter group or wry
individual desires .
Interpretation should be made according to the mindset of the framers, and we have much from them in such things as The Federalist Papers, personal memoirs and
journals...
We must preserve the Constitution as the authors intended..that is why they made amending of the Constitution so difficult..good thinking..
Just a few random thoughts on conservatism....the Constitution, yes..but more than the Constitution..