Being a Conservative Clarified

              Connie Burkhard (“Many differences between liberals and conservatives” Yuma Sun, February 2, 2013.) made some statements about being a conservative that need some elaboration. 

             “Pro-life”?  Most conservatives are probably pro-life, but most as well do not want the federal government interfering in the personal decisions of individuals or states. Conservatives fiercely defend the 10^th Amendment which leaves to the states all those powers not specified in Article I Section of 8 of the constitution. Basically, the federal government’s responsibility is to provide for the common defense and protect our borders. “Do your job.  Pass a budget and then go home and get a real job.” 

            “Equality takes a back seat”?  Absolutely not! That all men are created equal is at the core of conservative belief. Our individual gifts abound and for the federal government to interfere in our individual pursuit of happiness is abhorrent.

            “Patriarchal”?  Perhaps.  We certainly believe in family; and a family, like a ship, needs a captain.  The evidence is irrefutable that children raised by single parents are at a stark disadvantage, so we abhor government programs that encourage that life style.

            “No gun regulation“?  Somewhat true. I think most conservatives support thorough background checks for gun buyers.  Gunowners certainly do not want their names and addresses published in the local paper, though.

             “No social help.”? Absolutely false.  Conservatives believe in providing a safety net for those truly in need, but we believe that it should not be the responsibility of the federal government. Federal government largess simply leads to corruption.  We cannot let politicians buy votes with tax money.  State and county and municipal governments do a much better job of identifying and helping with those in need.  Conservatives give more to charity than any other political group.

              “Religion in the public schools”? No.  “The federal government will make no law regarding the establishment of religion.”  However, at the same time the federal government will make no law “prohibition the free exercise” of religion. We all should feel free to exercise our religious rights at all times and in all places.

             Thomas Jefferson is thought to be the most non-religious among the founders; but even he said,”God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?”  So we don’t establish a religion, but we must realize that if we don’t recognize that our rights are God given, we are in peril of losing them.  Washington, too, expressed many times, his belief about the importance of religion:  “Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports."

               Darrell Scott who lost his daughter at Columbine touched our hearts when he said, “What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence.”