How do voters determine who to vote for? Emotionally or intertwined with deliberate and sane reasoning? Or, by the charisma and good looks of the candidate?

Some citizens have already narrowed their decision to one candidate. Others haven’t quite made up their minds. The refrain we keep hearing --- “We mustn’t allow the Democrats to win; especially Hillary.”

What does it matter? Think about it. No matter who (Rep. or Dem.) is in the White House or Congress, neither has stopped the spending roller coaster we’re on nor dealt with any other serious issues facing our nation.

Americans should reflect upon our nation’s future if we continue on this progressive, destructive road in the name of creating a democratic Utopia on Earth. But how do conservative voters judge who is the best conservative candidate? And, how conservative are the candidates?

In his book, “The Politics of Prudence,” twentieth-century, conservative thinker Russell Kirk wrote 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...”.

Conservatism embraces a body of sentiments and is the experience of historic continuity. Of course conservatism is contrary to the abounding humanist ideologies floating around which are burying Western Civilization.

In hope of contributing to thinking voters, I offer the following, reprinted from my May 07 article. Kirk’s ten general principles of conservatism:

1. “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.

2. “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.

3. “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.

4. “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.”

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

6. “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.”

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

8. “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.

9. “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.

10. “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 determine if any one candidate running for election is a true conservative. For more in-depth evaluation, read Kirk’s above-named book.

You may have to ask yourself if you are a true conservative? Have we ever elected a true conservative in the past 100 years? Are any of the 2008 GOP candidates true conservatives? Or, are we all conservative in some areas and not in others?

Has America given up on conservatism?

[Next: forensic look at GOP candidates and constitutional conservatism.]
© 2008 Bonnie Alba