I found an interesting piece by William Bryk that makes an excellent case against President Bush from a conservative viewpoint. I have no idea who this writer is, but what he says lines up with what conservatism really means and not as it is expressed by Bush and the far right. Here is his summation of conservatism:
"...American conservatives seek what Lord Acton called the highest political good: to secure liberty, which is the freedom to obey one's own will and conscience rather than the will and conscience of others. Any government, of any political shade, that erodes personal liberty in the name of social and economic progress must face a conservative's reasoned dissent, for allowing one to choose between right and wrong, between wisdom and foolishness, is the essential condition of human progress. Although sometimes the State has a duty to impose restrictions, such curbs on the liberty of the individual are analogous to a brace, crutch or bandage: However necessary in the moment, as they tend to weaken and to cramp, they are best removed as soon as possible. Thus American conservative politics championed private property, an institution sacred in itself and vital to the well-being of society. It favored limited government, balanced budgets, fiscal prudence and avoidance of foreign entanglements.
More subtly, American conservatism viewed human society as something of an organism in itself. This sense of society's organic character urged the necessity of continuity with the past, with change implemented gradually and with as little disruption as possible. Thus, conservatism emphasized the "civil society"—the private voluntary institutions developed over time by passing the reality test—i.e., because they work—such as families, private property, religious congregations and neighborhoods—rather than the State. In nearly every sense, these institutions were much closer to the individuals who composed them than the State could ever be and had the incidental and beneficial effect of protecting one's personal liberty against undue intrusion from governments controlled by fanatics and busybodies, that which Edmund Burke presciently called the "armed ideologies," and thus upheld our way of life as flying buttresses supported a Gothic cathedral. "
Bryk states that while the current Administration bills itself as conservative, it has is really far from true conservatism and has put this movement into a sort of identity crisis:
"...the policies of this administration self-labeled "conservative" have little to do with the essence of tradition. Rather, they tend to centralize power in the hands of the government under the guise of patriotism. If nothing else, the Bush administration has thrown into question what being a conservative in America actually means."
He then talks about how Bush has betrayed conservative principles by ballooning the federal deficit, allowing the cronyism of Halliburton, the passage and support Patriot Act and going to war in Iraq.
It's a good read. Thanks to the Canadian blogger Peace, Order and Good Government, Eh? for the tip.
Posted by Dennis at August 8, 2004 10:54 PM