To my fellow Conservatives; What or who do you attribute to your ideology?

Question

First off, I want to thank all the Conservatives out there who stand up for their princables on this board. Growing up in Massachusetts finding someone that shares my ideology was rare.

My inspiration was Ronald Reagan. I came of age in the 80's and after reading his speaches and reading books about him, I was inspired.

BTW- Koo Koo Bananas; You got me with the two typos, but you should never use the word credible and Bill Clinton in the same sentence.

Answer 1

I grew up poor, worked hard, joined the Army, put myself through college on the GI bill and working on the side, I now have a good job living in a great place. I'm nothing special, I'm just an average American. In the Declaration of Independence, it says that we have the right to pursue happiness. Over time I believe the Democratic party has misunderstood this to mean that the government has the responsibility to provide happiness, while the GOP believes that it's the governments job to create and maintain an environment where on can achieve it for themselves. I agree with the GOP's philosophy, and I disagree with the furthering of social programming and the welfare state. That, more then any other reason, is why I support the Republican party.

Answer 2

I have two that contribute.

1. Ronald Reagan. I was 11 when Ronald Reagan was campaigning for president. My family had always been political and even then I was arguing against my FDR democrat grandfather. Listening to and watching Reagan through my teen years cemented my conservative ideology.

2. (Here's the surprise!) James Earl Carter. His ineptitude in the 70s didn't affect me much as a boy but I heard about it from my father. Through the 80s as I grew to political awareness and moved into high school and college, I continued to study the Carter administration and grew to absolutely despise the man. The four years of his presidency did more damage to this nation than 20 years of combined Bush/Clinton bumbling. We still pay the price for him every time we turn around. Case in point, Iran. He basically allowed the Khomeini revolution thinking it would be an improvement over the Shah (a staunch US ally). Great job Jimmy - you incompetent boob! No man has been less deserving of that position (yes, not even Nixon!) nor the accolades with which he has been hailed in the history of humanity.

Answer 3

So many places and events, so many ideas from so many people.
Ayn Rand, Robert Heinlein, Ronald Reagan, Jude Wanniski, Thomas Sowell, Milton Friedman, PJ O'Rourke, Camille Paglia, my father, my experiences in the military, my experiences with public school, my encounters with the rabid left, the Bible, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, economics classes, etc.

Answer 4

I would say Socrates influences my understanding of universal truth, and the rest of the sophists as well.

George Mason, Thomas Paine, Jefferson, Locke, all four of these influence my political ideology of patriotism and a desire to raise the waters so all boats will elevate.

Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement, that the democrats tried to stop by killing blacks, burning churches, hosing people down, and passing stupid Jim Crow laws, grandfather clauses, and other foolish crap. MLK influences me as well.

Religiously, outside of the bible, I lean a little to Augustine and CS Lewis, especially his book "The Problem with Pain".

Answer 5

I say screw those who think otherwise. Either they are jealous or they are repeating what thier parents say, and where thier parents get thier material is from CNN or some left-wing liberal who just wants power.

Good for you. A conservative in massachusetts. Who woulda thought? lol

Just don't take what the liberals say to heart. They flip flop too much to know what they really stand behind.

Answer 6

I've always leaned conservative, but I really got into politics from by reading John Hawkings at www.rightwingnews.com. Still the only blog that I make sure to read daily.

Answer 7

Kool Aid

Answer 8

i think most follow that of authoritarian dictatorships, like Hitler. But I could be wrong. I wish more conservatives would be inspired by Goldwater's ideology.

Answer 9

Common sense.

Answer 10

Reagan is also my inspiration, so much so I named my first son Reagan!