- 04 Jul 2015 20:43
#14578518
I was going to write this as a reply to another user's response to a topic but I think it's too long so I'm creating a new one. These are just some sparse thoughts on conservatism and modern liberalism.
I use the label conservative because out of all the labels it fits me better, but I'm not necessarily your typical US conservative - Conservatism means essentially conserving something - The distinction between conservatives and liberals is not a huge one, the difference is between social perceptions and preferred methods. I'd say modern liberalism and progressivism has a strong correlation with a deep rebellious desire to break free from oppression, to impose progress because it is always desirable and forget about the past - It is connected with a modernist attitude that promotes a worldview based on open mindedness, common sense and tolerance and it excludes anyone who doesn't agree.
There's many sub-sects of conservatism, some of them have been pointed out by Noob. Being a conservative just means you want to conserve something about the current status quo, and that differs depending on where you live - A british conservative is not the same as an American conservative, as the latter is (ironically) closely tied to classical liberalism which is the predominant ideology America was founded upon and has known for the last three centuries. Attitudes like supporting or opposing universal healthcare system depend on where you live - Being a conservative in my country entails being pro-free healthcare since it has been the healthcare system for decades and most people like some state intervention - It's actually a tradition, so it would be anti-conservative to promote privatizations and less regulations.
For the most part, I see values like prudence and temperance as crucial to any society and I am too on the right to associate myself with liberals and socialists, so conservative seems to suit me, and many of my opinions.
Ultimately, conservatism and modern liberalism are just two different approaches to classical liberalism and the enlightenment, and both provide different methods to solve problems or even have a different conception of what actually constitutes a real problem or not. For conservatives, gays not getting married is not a problem since they can still marry opposite gender people, so everyone is treated equally - For liberals, it is a form of discrimination.
Despite the differences between what being a conservatism means, I think in most of the western world we can recognize a few common traits (with sub-variations inside each one)
- A support for tradition, traditional values coupled with a healthy, moderate degree of patriotism and national pride - Not necessarily a nationalistic patriotism of the fascist kind but a health patriotism and loving your country.
- Promotion of tribalism as something acceptable and natural, and not as an archaic middle age notion that we should leave behind
- Some degree of social conservatism even in pro-same sex marriage conservatives - There is a social and moral order that forms a type of continuum and it should be preserved
- Overall respect for your ancestors' ideas and a skepticism towards change - When it happens, it should be gradual, slow and well thought. Slow transitions and reform are more desirable than shitting on the past and making a progressive revolution.
- Support for a capitalist economy, mostly with a mixed market with government public services and privately owned businesses. In America, the support for private economy is higher. As a general rule, conservatives support individual rights and free choice, so they dislike welfare and social support programs.
- Religious belief in the majority's religion or, for non-believers/spiritualists a respect for the traditional religion and valuing it's historical importance.
- A support for sovereignty and a strong military, but this doesn't equal with randomly invading whoever you want. A strong military's main purpose is to defend, not to attack.
- A support for both the individuality of each person but also some kind of duty towards the state and the nation.
- Generally a support for retribution over rehabilitation, and sometimes for the death penalty.
- Climate change denialism, creationism and biblical literalism don't count because those are issues almost exclusive to american conservatives.
- A skepticism towards some part of globalization, multiculturalism and immigrants - Not necessarily open xenophobia and hatred but I have doubts to the benefits immigrants are bringing to my country aside from filling jails and using welfare systems that hardworking citizens just don't get. (and if someone points this out, just cry "racism" even if you're a white immigrant).
So, am I crazy or just half-crazy?
I use the label conservative because out of all the labels it fits me better, but I'm not necessarily your typical US conservative - Conservatism means essentially conserving something - The distinction between conservatives and liberals is not a huge one, the difference is between social perceptions and preferred methods. I'd say modern liberalism and progressivism has a strong correlation with a deep rebellious desire to break free from oppression, to impose progress because it is always desirable and forget about the past - It is connected with a modernist attitude that promotes a worldview based on open mindedness, common sense and tolerance and it excludes anyone who doesn't agree.
There's many sub-sects of conservatism, some of them have been pointed out by Noob. Being a conservative just means you want to conserve something about the current status quo, and that differs depending on where you live - A british conservative is not the same as an American conservative, as the latter is (ironically) closely tied to classical liberalism which is the predominant ideology America was founded upon and has known for the last three centuries. Attitudes like supporting or opposing universal healthcare system depend on where you live - Being a conservative in my country entails being pro-free healthcare since it has been the healthcare system for decades and most people like some state intervention - It's actually a tradition, so it would be anti-conservative to promote privatizations and less regulations.
For the most part, I see values like prudence and temperance as crucial to any society and I am too on the right to associate myself with liberals and socialists, so conservative seems to suit me, and many of my opinions.
Ultimately, conservatism and modern liberalism are just two different approaches to classical liberalism and the enlightenment, and both provide different methods to solve problems or even have a different conception of what actually constitutes a real problem or not. For conservatives, gays not getting married is not a problem since they can still marry opposite gender people, so everyone is treated equally - For liberals, it is a form of discrimination.
Despite the differences between what being a conservatism means, I think in most of the western world we can recognize a few common traits (with sub-variations inside each one)
- A support for tradition, traditional values coupled with a healthy, moderate degree of patriotism and national pride - Not necessarily a nationalistic patriotism of the fascist kind but a health patriotism and loving your country.
- Promotion of tribalism as something acceptable and natural, and not as an archaic middle age notion that we should leave behind
- Some degree of social conservatism even in pro-same sex marriage conservatives - There is a social and moral order that forms a type of continuum and it should be preserved
- Overall respect for your ancestors' ideas and a skepticism towards change - When it happens, it should be gradual, slow and well thought. Slow transitions and reform are more desirable than shitting on the past and making a progressive revolution.
- Support for a capitalist economy, mostly with a mixed market with government public services and privately owned businesses. In America, the support for private economy is higher. As a general rule, conservatives support individual rights and free choice, so they dislike welfare and social support programs.
- Religious belief in the majority's religion or, for non-believers/spiritualists a respect for the traditional religion and valuing it's historical importance.
- A support for sovereignty and a strong military, but this doesn't equal with randomly invading whoever you want. A strong military's main purpose is to defend, not to attack.
- A support for both the individuality of each person but also some kind of duty towards the state and the nation.
- Generally a support for retribution over rehabilitation, and sometimes for the death penalty.
- Climate change denialism, creationism and biblical literalism don't count because those are issues almost exclusive to american conservatives.
- A skepticism towards some part of globalization, multiculturalism and immigrants - Not necessarily open xenophobia and hatred but I have doubts to the benefits immigrants are bringing to my country aside from filling jails and using welfare systems that hardworking citizens just don't get. (and if someone points this out, just cry "racism" even if you're a white immigrant).
So, am I crazy or just half-crazy?