You claim to be a conservative. I, too, claim to be a conservative. But what is a conservative? Americans pick up labels easily yet most of us lack a classical history education which would determine if we are true conservatives. We also have a difficult time determining the conservative thinking of our leaders or political candidates and are often misled.

We could blame the liberal, dumbed-down public education system. If you attempt to find undistorted history or conservative writers, you will not readily find them in our public schools and universities.

I concentrate here on one great twentieth century, conservative thinker Russell Kirk. We citizens would do well to read his books to gain a greater understanding of conservatism and contemplate what future our nation will have if we continue on the progressive, destructive road in the name of creating Utopia on Earth.

In his book, “The Politics of Prudence,” Kirk writes that conservatism is “...a state of mind, a type of character, a way of looking at the civil social order.” It is one who finds “...the Permanent Things more pleasing than Chaos...”. Of course there is more than this to it except to say that conservatism is contrary to the abounding humanist ideologies floating around and instituting destruction of civilization. Conservatism embraces a body of sentiments and is the experience of historic continuity.

Kirk offers ten general principles which we may use to determine whether we really are conservatives.

One: “The conservative believes that there exists an enduring moral order.” This signifies harmony and believes that human nature is constant and moral truths are permanent.

Two: “The conservative adheres to custom, convention, and continuity.” This enables peace and harmony under a body of law to reign over and among a people, and links generation to generation. The law framework is a way to avoid perpetual disputes about rights and duties.

Three: “Conservatives believe in what may be called the principle of prescription.” That is, “things established by immemorial usage.” For example, “there exist rights of which the chief sanction is their antiquity---including rights to property” and more. Our morals are prescriptive in great part.

Four: “Conservatives are guided by their principle of prudence.” Edmond Burke agreed with Plato that “...in the statesman, prudence is chief among virtues. Any public measure ought to be judged by its probable long-run consequence, not merely by temporary advantage or popularity.”

Five: “Conservatives pay attention to the principle of variety.” Inequality is part of all life and societies.

Six: “Conservatives are chastened by their principle of imperfectibility.” Conservatives know that human nature is not and never will be perfect...seeking utopian domination or a perfect society is to end in disaster. Kirk asserts that “The ideologues who promise the perfection of man and society have converted a great part of the twentieth-century world into a terrestrial hell.”

Seven: “Conservatives are persuaded that freedom and property are closely linked.” Without the foundation of private property, there is no civilized freedom.

Eight: “Conservatives uphold voluntary community, quite as they oppose involuntary collectivism.” America has a rich past in a people who strive for and contribute to the spirit of community where decisions are made by private organizations or local political bodies.

Nine: “The conservative perceives the need for prudent restraint upon power and upon human passions.” This is to arrange government and society in such a way to avoid anarchy and tyranny. constitutional checks and balances, adequate enforcement of the laws, the old intricate system of restraints upon will and appetite---as instruments of law and order.

Ten: “The thinking conservative understands that permanence and change must be recognized and reconciled in a vigorous society.” Kirk notes Samuel Taylor Coleridge who called this a healthy society’s “...Permanence and its Progression. The permanence of a society is formed by those enduring interests and convictions...” which create “...stability and continuity. Without that permanence, society slips into anarchy. The progression in a society is that spirit and that body of talents which urge us on to prudent reform and improvement; without that progression, a people stagnate.”

By these principles we may discriminate and determine whether any one candidate running for election is a true conservative. These are the short defining principles; for more in-depth evaluation, read Kirk’s above-named book and delve into Edmond Burke and T.S. Eliot.

How do you measure up? Are you a true conservative? Have we ever really elected a true conservative in the past 100 years? Are any of the 2008 GOP candidates true conservatives? Or, are we all possibly conservative in some areas and not in others?

What do you think? E-mail your comments: tttalba@hotmail.com

© 2007 Bonnie Alba