cyrusmartin's Blog

This is a commentary I wrote yesterday for another web site.
It's pretty long but if you want to read it, please do.
Feel free to respond however you think is appropriate.
heh
I know... I know... I basically just painted a target on my back by saying that.
Anyhoo... here goes...

The Right is Wrong

By: Cyrus Martin

August 21, 2008

 

            Conservative: As defined by Merridian-Webster

Main Entry: 2conservative

Function: noun

Date: 1831

1 a: an adherent or advocate of political conservatism bcapitalized : a member or supporter of a conservative political party2 a: one who adheres to traditional methods or views b: a cautious or discreet person

            There are really only three major distinctions that a politically minded person inside The United States can claim as their own: Liberal, Moderate or Conservative. Some people choose to avoid these distinctions entirely because while each possesses a range of positive attributes, there are also stark negatives that come along for the ride. None the less, these are the columns into which all politicos will fall. In the following essay, I will attempt to outline what I believe to be the worst of these and why I have arrived at this conclusion. I will shed new light on the group that has brought the most suffering upon the people of this country and continues to distort its own image as the “Right” party. Of the three, clearly the worst are the Conservatives.

            Before you dismiss this essay as a partisan, slanted, spun, twisted, distorted or prejudiced report, please give me the opportunity to explain my perspective on this topic. I have not arrived at this conclusion without much discussion and debate. This is not something I choose to believe out of convenience or because it suits some interpretation that benefits me the most. Indeed I was once someone that claimed the label of “Conservative” proudly and without hesitation. I did so in full certainty that I was correct in this choice and without any real consideration that I could be wrong. It would take many many years before I would challenge this assumption… but when I did… I found it increasingly difficult to justify my belief and nearly impossible to rationalize to anyone I attempted to convert to my way of thinking. There are many reasons for this and I will explain them in detail throughout the course of this essay.

            If you are someone that constantly challenges your beliefs and searches for truth in your life then I have aimed this document directly at you. I think that I am a fairly reasonable person but I know that I have closed my mind to certain issues from time to time. Each time that I rethought something that I had chosen to dismiss without diligent consideration, I found that I could learn more about myself and the world than I ever expected. As a Christian, this has been extremely interesting. Often we associate Conservatives with Christians and I had always assumed this label… however this may not be the truth. These kinds of paradoxes are present throughout this discussion. Please join me now as I explain my belief that the Conservative movement is (at best) a confusion of beliefs and morality and (at worst) a deliberate deception used by and against Americans that want to be good… or at least claim to.

 

            Article 1: Economic Conservatism

 

            The principle of Economic Conservatism can be defined as a system of economics that restrains spending and encourages fiscal responsibility. Another definition might be: an economic system that limits taxes and spending on behalf of The Government. Either of these definitions would be considered correct by a Conservative however both of them are in fact lies. The problem with Economic Conservatism is that this principle is considered to be tied to Moral Conservatism and therefore correct… but this is a contradiction. To be more specific, Economic Conservatism is a self centered, Darwinian process of controlling wealth. These are heavy charges though so please weigh the following and decide for yourself.

            An Economic Conservative is someone who seeks to control their own assets with as little outside interference as possible. The idea is to maintain in-flow while reducing out-flow at every opportunity. This alone would be acceptable and even desirable if it were not done at the expense of the community. Economic Conservatives place their own individual interest and finances above all other interests. Profits, losses and expenses remain focused on the individual. This process is considered ideal to build wealth even if it is done at the cost of sustaining the resources used to perpetuate it.

            The problem with viewing a singularity as an island is that no one exists autonomously. We are all dependent on one another even if we think we are not. Companies require workers, workers require an employer, money is needed to buy goods and resources, roads are needed for transportation, sewers remove waste, police keep us safe, our military stands guard and we all breathe clean American air. None of this is free but all are required. Economic Conservatism (if implemented fully) would destroy most of these because of the primary function of all Fiscally Conservative entities: Maximize profits and limit expenditures to only the necessary costs and only if the benefit outweighs the cost of the expenditure.

            Who would provide Government services if there was no government? One major argument by Economic Conservatives is that the private sector can perform all tasks better than the government. From a profit oriented perspective, this makes no sense. Privatizing services such as The Police and Fire Departments would alter the services to such an extent that their primary function would be impossible to maintain. In order to generate a profit, your local Emergency Services would be forced to focus on concepts and processes that generate the most money. All other services would become lower priority or even ignored. Imagine the reality of restricted gear, coverage areas, techniques, facilities and personnel based on profitability. Fiscal Conservatism would change the focus from saving lives to making a buck. How is this moral?

            Taxes are bad right? Nobody likes to pay for anything and an Economic Conservative generally views taxes as an unnecessary expenditure. Taxes are evil and wrong and need to be stopped. The only problem with this is that an Economic Conservative has no problem benefiting from the resources and services provided by taxes. Imagine for a moment that everything was controlled by private corporations. How much would you pay to use the road in front of your house? What daily fee would be reasonable for a new bridge down town? How about a fee for the soldiers in the army or for keeping your police department from relocating to a more profitable neighborhood? If you pay for all of these services then you are paying taxes. The difference between these services being public vs. private is the focus of their existence and who they answer to. No taxes would mean no government services and that would mean that privately owned businesses would dictate the safety and functionality of your family at every level.

            Darwin believed in Natural Selection. Economic Conservatives also believe in this principle though they may not believe that they do. In fact, the entire argument that is made to justify a system of fiscal conservatism is “Survival of The Fittest”. An economic system based around the idea of natural selection seems to exist in contradiction of the basic premise that this is founded in morality. Surely a moral system would take into account factors such as claiming responsibility for not only profits but also for the costs of doing business in a community. Surely a moral system would recognize “National Loyalty” as more than just a slogan to be used to generate profits. Surely a “conservative” system would seek to protect the traditions and culture of the people it employs and serves rather than weigh their value over their cost.

            Economic Darwinism such as this does not recognize the benefit of using tax funds for projects that do not directly benefit the individuals that pay the largest portion of taxes. The elderly, the poor, undereducated, unfortunate, the abandoned and the minority will never share the same basic interests as the wealthy. Their realities are polar opposites to those of the rich. No matter how hard these groups may work or how driven they are, the odds will be stacked against their success. Without the support of organizations with the power to improve schools, roads, infrastructures and a hand up in hard times… many are doomed to continued poverty and hardship. The organization in the best position to provide this help is our government. While success has not always been achieved in hard times (such as during Hurricane Catrina) and there is constantly the need for revision in policy and implementation… our government is designed to provide social services while answering to the voting public regardless of their economic standing.

            Economic Conservatism is in fact a lie. This is merely a designation used as an excuse to take advantage of every factor that benefits an individual or business while ignoring the responsibilities of that entity to the community and environment in order to maximize personal profit under the guise of moral authority. This is a barn painted to look like a house. It can be called a house… decorated like one… praised as the best house ever built… but it is what it is. The need to disguise this lie with labels like “moral” or “Christian” is disturbing once the actual system is analyzed. Recognizing such obfuscation is crucial if our economy is to ever become truly responsible to all of the people and not just to the few that have manipulated us to worship their brands and products.

           

 

            Article 2: Moral Conservatism

 

            A Moral Conservative is a person that lives life according to moral guidelines that are limited to what is viewed to be correct and good. A Moral Conservative generally holds these morals as part of a religion or faith which is integrated into every aspect of their world view. In America, these are generally people that would consider them selves to be “Christians” although the designation of Moral Conservative is not limited specifically to any one belief system. It is not what is believed specifically that identifies a Moral Conservative. It is the conviction of self righteousness.

            Some in this category would view themselves as living a “right” life while viewing others that do not share their morality as being “wrong”. This is not a prerequisite however it is fairly common. Some Moral Conservatives do not look down on others because they have simplified their world view to encompass only their own personal belief system and have dismissed the views of others rather than compare them. While this could be considered arrogant by some or irrational by others, it is none the less real to those that make this choice. Because these individuals choose to view themselves as “right” then they are unable to consider other perspectives and are handicapped against the concept of acquired knowledge. This exists to varying degrees among Moral Conservatives but should not be viewed as an absolute requirement.

            Are all Christians Moral Conservatives? No. In fact, an argument could be made that any true Christian is NOT a Moral Conservative. An explanation of this can be found in The Bible. By researching the actions of Jesus, a Christian would discover that he was in fact a revolutionary in his day. He challenged many of the old beliefs and traditions that were accepted as “Right”. His primary concern was for his fellow man and for educating all of us as to the need to save one another. While his teachings provided specific laws that we all should follow, he often chastised those that viewed themselves to be above others. “Judge not lest ye be judged”

            By the same token, a Christian’s concern was specifically outlined by Jesus. He warned all of us against building up our treasures on this planet rather than in the kingdom of God. He often sought out charity and praised those that gave of themselves without thinking of their own benefit… or whether or not a donation was tax deductable. Jesus taught us to be open to new ideas and to always seek the truth even if it was not convenient or traditional. All of these principles seem to contradict a Moral or Economic Conservative’s view of life and priorities. This would seem problematic for someone claiming to be a “Conservative Christian”.

           

 

            Article 3: Cultural Conservatism

 

            Just like mom used to make… right? We all have memories from our childhood that we reflect on from time to time that put a smile on our collective face. Many of the old traditions and attitudes we know from our pasts have helped shape us into the people we are today. Some of this is good and some of it is not… for example… the views our parents or their parents held on issues such as class or race. Cultural Conservatism can be a double edged sword.

            Having conservative traditions is not a bad thing. We all have family traditions that we love. My grandmother used to make Christmas candy and although she has passed on and I have no interest in making candy myself… I still remember when she did with great affection. We get together on Birthdays and Christmas every year to celebrate and exchange gifts. These are very good traditions and help us all maintain a bond of unity and shared prosperity. Just because it is a conservative tradition that does not make it wrong… however we must be careful when we label our traditions as conservative.

            A conservative tradition is one that does not change or at least does not change much. Not all traditions should be labeled as conservative though. If your family traditionally goes to church on Easter then this is clearly conservative and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. If your family traditionally throws eggs at cars on Halloween though then I doubt many people would consider this conservative. Also, just because the tradition is conservative that does not make it right.

            A common conservative tradition in The South is to not associate with poor people. This is clearly against the teachings of Jesus though and therefore not a correct one. Perhaps your family sets off fireworks every 4th of July even if there is a drought. That would be bad as well. Maybe your conservative traditions dictate that you will not date outside of your race. There are many conservative traditions that are not good for us and cause us to either make unnecessary mistakes or force us to miss out on many of the best opportunities life has in store.

            It is valuable to live life with conservative traditions but I would not recommend that anyone live their life as a Cultural Conservative. If you define yourself by traditions that are mostly or completely conservative then you will undeniably suffer for it. We should all value our family beliefs and customs but we should also have the courage and conviction to evaluate the traditions of the past so that we can decide if change is required. After all, even though traditions are of value… the world is always moving forward.

 

            Article 4: Conservatism vs. Liberalism

 

            For some, the choice seems to be A or B. You are either a Conservative or a Liberal. Conservatives are like dogs and cats. These two designations tend to view one another in very black and white terms. This is a good way to identify a member of either affiliation. Conservatives typically view Liberals as Communists with “bleeding hearts” whereas Liberals will sometimes refer to Conservatives as Fascists or hypocrites. Neither observation is correct… but these do give us an important insight into the mindset of each side.

            Are Conservatives fascists? No. Of course not. A Conservative is an American and most of them believe in Democracy. The problem is that typically they have a warped view of what that means. A Conservative is primarily concerned with his own wealth and rights and usually feels defensive as though he or she is being threatened with the prospect of change. A Conservative seeks to “conserve” their world. This is great as long as it does not impose hardship on the rest of us… which all too often… is an unfortunate consequence of the self centered philosophy they prescribe to.

            Are Liberals “Bleeding Heart Communists”? Some probably are… but the vast majority of Liberals are socially conscious and have a philosophy that views America as a whole and not simply as a bunch of individuals seeking to better themselves at the expense of one another. The Liberal mindset is to try new things… to seek new information and to feel free to make mistakes along the way. They are not perfect or correct on all issues… but caring about the poor and about being responsible does not equate to Communism.

The biggest disagreements between Conservatives and Liberals seem to come from the issues that are viewed in completely opposite ways on either side. Issues such as Abortion tend to raise the most eyebrows for both groups and the debates often become heated and passionate. Conservatives center their arguments on belief and morality as do Liberals. The individual interpretation of what that morality is will cause explosive tensions. Cats and Dogs…indeed…

 

Article 5: Assessment and Conclusion

 

Why are Conservatives worse than Liberals? The answer to this is simple. Conservatives claim the right to associate themselves with Christianity, morality and social correctness. As outlines above though… this is clearly not true. Conservatives are no better than Liberals. In fact, because they claim superiority through lies and distortions then I am forced to conclude the only reasonable truth… that Conservatives may be the “Right” party but this does not make them right. A self righteous claim of moral, cultural, religious, economic and social authority with so much evidence to the contrary can only be called what it is… hypocrisy. It is for this reason that Conservatism is in fact the greater of two evils… and shame on them for saying otherwise.

Call yourself what you want but you have no right to claim superiority to anyone else. Being religious is not the same as being a Christian… even if you attend a Christian church. Being conservative in the same way is not tantamount to being righteous. We have different perspectives and we all have a right to them unless we are hurting our fellow Americans. Ask yourself if you are right and why you feel it is so important to be right. You might find that you aren’t as “conservative” as you used to think you were. You might even be surprised at what you actually believe.

            God is omnipotent. God is all knowing. God is righteous. You are not God. You may believe in God and believe that you are good… but you have no right to place yourself above anyone else… especially if you claim moral superiority. Assuming you are a Christian, please take a moment to read The Bible before you lay claim to it. We all have a lot to learn from each other.

 

Matthew 7:4 - American Standard Version
Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me cast out the mote out of thine eye; and lo, the beam is in thine own eye?