what is conservatism and what is wrong with it?

Answer 1

Conservative thought is an emphasis on personal freedom, a free market, small government, justice for all, and the protection of citizens.

The problem is, conservatives are inherently paradoxical. Conservatives claim to fight for personal freedoms and the freemarket, while at the same, it is illegal to possess certain chemicals (drugs), and it is also illegal to sell them. They also falsely promise justice for all in the sense that those with special connections receive special treatment. They justify their actions with "it's protecting the country," hence, the erosion of our rights due to the conservative-enacted Patriot Act.

Another attack on personal liberty--appearing first in the 1980s, and again today with seemingly more force--is the attack on freedom of religion. They falsely claim that "Christians are being persecuted," while they are the ones in control. At the same time, they pick and choose what religions they recognize as "legitimate," and often times minority religions that are not Christian are not recognized without intense bickering and grassroots action from the minority religious congregation.

Answer 2

In the most general sense, conservatism is a political ideology that seeks to maintain what has been done in the past and places value on the existing order of society.


To look at what conservatism constitutes in practice (in the united states), it is important to recognize that there are two major groups of political issues... social issues and economic issues. Social issues include things like abortion and drug policy where as economic issues include things like welfare. In general, conservatives tend to want to control people when it comes to social issues. Conservatives are against abortion and against the legalization of marijuana (keep in mind that this is not a hard and fast rule... gun control is a social issue as well but conservatives tend to want to let people have as many guns as they want). When it comes to economic issues, conservatives generally want the government to have as little control of businesses as possible. They also want lower taxes and do not believe that it is the government's job to redistribute the wealth of it's citizens. Once again, keep in mind that this is a highly oversimplified explanation.


As for the second part of your question... well, that's a little harder because it's generally a matter of opinion. The most non-opinionated answer I could give is that conservatism promotes traditional values on the basis that they are "good." I have not, however, found a good explanation as to WHY traditional values are inherently "good." Without a good reason for why "traditional" values are better than any other values or why the status-quo is better than any other way of doing something, the argument for conservatism is useless.

Answer 3

True conservatism is a decent thing and I support some of it's ideas on personal freedom.

Unfortunatly, that conservatism went down the drain and gave rise to Neo-Conservatism. This is what Bush does, reward the rich, punnish the poor, legeslate morality using the bible. That's the paradox. If they believe in the consitution, why do they want to establish a national religion?

Answer 4

Conservatism in general means keeping things the way they are.

In the specific context of U.S. politics, conservatives want to restore the government to what was invisioned by the Founding Fathers and detailed in the Constitution. For example, the Constitution states that social programs are the responsibility of individuals or of the states. This is why conservatives want to get rid of social entitlement programs. Contrary to what the hate-mongers will tell you, we do care about the sick, elderly, poor, etc. The only difference is that we believe in the Constitution. That means that helping people is done at the state level or by the private sector, not by the Federal Government.

Answer 5

The core of conservative thinking is to protect the father figure or leader regardless of ones actions. If conservatives and some liberals don`t have or have been overwhelmed with evidence the only other way to win is to attack which is the conservatives weapon even if they call liberals NEGATIVE, the word that is being used by organized religion around the country. Liberals are less likely to attack but to use evidence. Once you understand that the conservatives rely on a father figure and liberals view as all of us one it together then you have progressed.

Answer 6

Conservatism is the idea that we should not depend on big government for everything and there is nothing wrong with it.

Answer 7

Conservatives, (pure political speaking) think you know whats best for you and your money

liberals (pure political speaking) think that the federal government knows whats best for you and your money.

whats wrong with us? some of us have a problem sticking to the above philosophy. that's what power can do to people.

Answer 8

properly, there's a brilliant distinction beween legislating "morality" and legislating "ethics." a minimum of we are actually not sticking our noses interior the corporate of corrupt firms, because might desire to be un-American. a minimum of in accordance to morons who think of u . s . of america substitute into in accordance with crapitalism.

Answer 9

Please go to Wikipedia and look up the definition of fascism. This describes the conservatives pretty well and explains whats wrong about their point of view.

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