Random Thought 10

To be a Conservative.

In the American political climate, I like to call myself a Moderate or an Independent, because I think that, in calling myself a Republican or a Democrat, the will of the party takes over and the issues are pushed back.  Republicans and Democrats are so willing to push aside some of their personal beliefs because they either a) so love their own party they are willing to compromise anything or b) so hate the other party, they are willing to do the same so the other side doesn’t win.  I don’t know about you, but I don’t like that at all.  I never have.  One of my biggest issues with this government is the two party system.  It seems that only if you are insanely rich can you successfully campaign for a presidential election.  Either that, or have enormous collateral to get loans upon loans.  I personally believe that it is the bipartisan nature of this government that will eventually destroy it. 

In the upcoming election, American voters will have two candidates to choose from.  And many don’t want either one.  I find myself agreeing with some things Obama says and some things McCain says, but I also find myself dissatisfied with certain things on both sides (Obama more than McCain, I must admit).   The thing is, I find myself disagreeing with many things both sides say.  I cannot be a Republican because there are many social issues I don’t agree with them on, but I cannot be a Democrat because there are many economic issues I don’t agree with them on.  So where does that leave me?  Somewhere in the middle, I guess.  But I think I can definitely say that I do have conservative ideals.  While I do think that the Church and the State need to be as separate as possible in order to STRENGTHEN BOTH, I do think it is important to life your private life as morally and ethically (according to Judaic, Christian, Muslim, whatever, values) as possible.  I believe that the government needs to have as little impact in individuals’ lives as possible because when it does get too involved, all that ends up happening is a dependency upon a system that is fallible and will fail you.  I think what needs to be remembered most of all is that people are fallible.  There is no such thing as perfection, and I don’t want someone who is just as imperfect as I am telling me how I should be living my life. 

So after that digression, where do these ideals leave me with regards to the Presidential election?  As a member of a democracy, it is my right and obligation to vote in the elections.  Without that right, we are just allowing other people to once again make the decisions for us, and do you really think that the people next door know what is better for you than you do?  Honestly? 

So this brings me back to the original topic that set me off on this tangent.  I have to say that it is not often that I find a person in the media with whom I so completely agree on a certain issue.  However, I came across an article by Glenn Beck on CNN.com today titled Commentary: Obama no, McCain maybe.  It is an incredibly thoughtful, well-written article, and I couldn’t help but agree with pretty much everything he said.  I want to reprint the things he said in the article about what it means to be a Conservative. 

• “A conservative believes that our inalienable rights do not include housing, healthcare or Hummers.
• A conservative believes that our inalienable rights DO include the pursuit of happiness. That means it is guaranteed to no one.
• A conservative believes that those who pursue happiness and find it have a right to not be penalized for that success.
• A conservative believes that there are no protections against the hardship and heartache of failure. We believe that the right to fail is just as important as the chance to succeed and that those who do fail learn essential lessons that will help them the next time around.
• A conservative believes in personal responsibility and accepts the consequences for his or her words and actions.
• A conservative believes that real compassion can’t be found in any government program.
• A conservative believes that each of us has a duty to take care of our neighbors. It was private individuals, companies and congregations that sent water, blankets and supplies to New Orleans far before the government ever set foot there.
• A conservative believes that family is the cornerstone of our society and that people have a right to manage their family any way they see fit, so long as it’s not criminal. We are far more attuned to our family’s needs than some faceless, soulless government program.
• A conservative believes that people have a right to worship the God of their understanding. We also believe that people do not have the right to jam their version of God (or no God) down anybody else’s throat.
• A conservative believes that people go to the movies to be entertained and to church to be preached to, not the other way around.
• A conservative believes that debt creates unhealthy relationships. Everyone, from the government on down, should live within their means and strive for financial independence.
• A conservative believes that a child’s education is the responsibility of the parents, not the government.
• A conservative believes that every human being has a right to life, from conception to death.
• A conservative believes in the smallest government you can get without anarchy. We know our history: The larger a government gets, the harder it will fall.

Those are the things a conservative believes in, and they’re the things that I believe in. Now, if only I could find a candidate to match.” (I added the bullet points for emphasis)

If this is truly what conservatives are, then this is what I would be proud to define myself as.  Unfortunately, I do think that people are all to willing to shove ideas down other people’s throats in the effort to have things “the way they should be”.  I don’t think candidates like this exist, or ever will exist.  And if they do, I don’t think that people will allow them to do the work they so desperately need to.

I refuse to be called a Republican and I refuse to be called a Democrat.  Maybe if I can hold onto these core values that Mr. Beck speaks of, I can hold true to what I believe and vote for the candidate that emulates those as well.  

The question does remain, though: what to do if neither of the candidates emulate enough of the values to make me want to vote for either?