What happened to true American "conservatives", apparently when I wasn't paying close attention? Where did they all go?
I was born into a conservative Protestant household in a Deep South US state (Louisiana), and I lived in 4 others until the age of 48. And, until the age of 48, I still supported the US political party that believed in smaller, less intrusive federal government, restraint from international intervention and imperialism, avoiding the use of America's military in "nation-building", particularly when it required the sacrifice of American soldiers' lives in unnecessary foreign wars or in police actions to enforce UN mandates.
That Party believed that war profiteering is morally wrong and is anti-American. No one should reap profits from the deaths of American soldiers, right? That Party believed in reasonable solutions to problems like global warming and the dependence on foreign oil imports (not just knee-jerk denials of fact, science and logic). That Party believed in preserving our natural resources for future generations, that a well-educated populace, enlightened with the truth, is essential for the preservation of our form of representative republican governance.
Remember?
But where did I get that strange notion that good business and good governance must include elements like trust, loyalty, and mutual respect? Who taught me that? Who taught me that a man should work hard, take his debts seriously, and conduct business in an honorable and honest manner?
I can tell where I got those now outdated ideas: I was taught those by old school conservatives, like myself, but I differ completely from those men in this one respect: I kept those values and they totally refused to live by the same value system.
Yes, I know ... the world has changed ... but let me tell you something; those of us who stood by the conservative principles we were taught when we were young; there are damned few of us. The great majority of America's so-called "conservatives" went right along with all those changes; and champion a leadership that violates the most basic conservative principles of all:
There is nothing "conservative" about the deregulation of corporations that care only about short-term profit at any cost.
There is nothing "conservative" about attempts to export America's manufacturing and agricultural base overseas by calling it "free trade".
There is nothing "conservative" about financing expensive opportunistic foreign wars with increased borrowing.
There is nothing "conservative" about the use of the American military, particularly our homeland security forces (the state national guard forces) for foreign "nation building" or to act as the police force for a foreign country.
There is nothing "conservative" about a federal government that misses no opportunity to be more intrusive in the private lives of its constituent citizens.
There is nothing "conservative" about the current resort to fear-mongering, and the perpetuation of a constant state of suspicion, insecurity, and hysteria.
There is nothing "conservative" about a government which denies valid scientific evidence of a serious threat from the effects of global climate.
There is nothing "conservative" about the use of torture in secret prison camps.
There is nothing "conservative" about a government that maintains a right to detain anyone, indefinitely, without legal recourse, without charges being made in a court of law, and without a trial. Or extrajudicial assassinations, even of the nastiest people, because we choose to be better, to act more decently.
So, tell me I have antiquated ideas, call me an "old fool", tell me that I need to change with the times, but don't ever tell me that I don't know what constitutes traditional American "conservatism" or that I've failed to live my the principles I espouse to hold.
I watched what happened 22 years ago ... in a country given over to tribalism, and I've lost all respect for those who let themselves be led astray by deceitful schemers and artful con artists.
Charles
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