What is Conservatism?

Conservatism emphasizes the importance of values which sustain society: religion, authority, family, industriousness, responsibility, and respect for tradition, for instance. Without adherence to them, history shows us, society deteriorates and eventually disintegrates.
Given the objective of a healthy and prosperous society, conservatism’s aim is to recognize and support those characteristics, attitudes, and values which serve that end and oppose those that don’t.

Why are these traits essential to a healthy society? Conservatives know that the answer is rooted in human nature.

Human nature doesn’t change. Envy, pride, and the urge to dominate, for instance, were as much a constant of the nature of the Greeks as they are in people today. And so the lessons of the past bearing on the human condition should be heeded.

History is a laboratory of human experience. What policies contribute to human liberty within the context of a healthy society, for instance? We know that the free enterprise economic system is far superior to alternatives. Why? Adam Smith (“Wealth of Nations”) observed that people are driven by self-interest (another trait of human nature). When that selfish inclination is allowed to work its will in a free economy, prosperity ensues. The businessman seeks profit by providing good and services that others want.  He does so in search of profit.  But both sides benefit.

Another lesson:  why are conservatives such big boosters of two parent families?  Consider the example of children of un-wed mothers. Statistically, they fare markedly less-well than those raised in traditional families (think poverty, crime and unemployment).  That remains true even when comparing sets from the same socio-economic background. Thus, the fact that un-wed motherhood has increased from 5% in 1960 to 40% today is a cause for grave societal concern.

We know, historically, that marriage is a social glue.  Laws, therefore, should make it difficult to dissolve. Private property is essential to a free and prosperous society. It should be protected. The list of appropriate areas of governmental influence in promoting a healthy society goes on, of course.

Society survives and prospers when its culture and government support the strengths and weakness of people as reflected in human nature. Social authority as represented in the culture and in the government has the obligation to aid the former and discourage the latter.

In contrast, leftists throughout history have believed that man can be bent to the will of a social vision.  People should not be greedy or selfish.  Wealth should be distributed “fairly”.  Violence should not exist.  People should only eat what’s good for them… and so forth.  Admirable utopian dreams, all.  

Conservatives, however, realize that it is pointless to argue that man should have drives and inclinations he does not have. Successful societies are built on recognizing human nature. To ignore it results in failure (European Socialism); to attempt to change it leads to tyranny (Communist Russia).

In its essence, conservatism stands for realism. Experience is the best teacher - untested theory is the worst.  Those who are not realists, those who refuse to accept human nature as it is, no matter how good their intentions may be, for that reason alone, are foes of mankind. Excessive taxation deters the entrepreneurs who create jobs.  Expansion of welfare weakens industriousness.  Removal of religion from the public area undercuts a moral societal pillar. 

In reality, the policies of the left are unhealthy for mankind no matter what the intention may be.