Liberal / Conservative (Part 3) Society
Thomas Dawson
August 12, 2005
As we have seen, in economic terms, there is a tendency for the name of an economic system (ex: liberal economic system) to keep its name permanently. However in the political sense, the name Conservative is acquired only after the political system is firmly established and in control. The political term Liberal is associated with a group seeking inclusion in government representation. Once a Liberal movement has become successful, it will enforce its ideology, and it is on the road to becoming part the next Conservative government.
The terms Liberal and Conservative in the social sense is not quite as settled and yet easily understood within a given culture and a given time period.
In the social sense, from colonial times, there have been at least two classes of citizens involved in our government. There is the ruling class; that the niceties of language usually refer to as the upper class, and the middle class. Then there was the lower class that was not involved in our government. These were people without property and therefore could not vote. When this class finally acquired the vote, they also acquired the name of working class. These were mostly the new immigrants and indentured slaves. With the shortage of labor in the agricultural economy of the revolutionary period, almost every white man who wished, could acquire property and be reasonably successful by the age of forty.
The well educated were mainly lawyers, merchants, and very wealthy farmers and businessmen. These along with a very few highly successful skilled craftsmen comprised the upper class and were in command of the legislatures. They were the Conservatives in every sense of the word. They felt that “the people that own this country should run it”.
By the time the Revolutionary War broke out, the English regarded them as rebels, insurrectionists, and the liberals, demanding representation in their governance.
The leaders of a rebellion are by their nature Conservative, in the sense that they seek exclusive power. Notice that people without great means and busy making a living do not instigate, plan or organize rebellion and insurrection. They will however supply the manpower for a cause that seems right to them. It is only people with time on their hands and with some education that enter into discussions about changes that would lead to insurrection. Only the educated can plan a successful rebellion, and it is only the wealthy that can fund it. It is however, the middle class that usually must shed the blood to see it through.
Our founding fathers constituted a new government that was already Conservative. And Conservative it would remain. Early on the Federalists were staunch supporters of a strong centralized federal government and were the Conservatives. People like Jefferson, supporting states rights and a minimal federal government were considered liberal. Passions were so high that even many people in government and on opposing sides, did not speak to each other. Liberal issues and views tend to change with time and circumstance. Conservative views change slowly and over time its power is consolidated. It is only possible to get a reasonable picture at a given point in time. So let us consider the moment.
We are currently in a consolidated Conservative period with little Liberal influence. There is a relatively new or, Neo-Conservative movement in control of the Government. Much to the consternation of the traditional conservatives, this movement is fiscally irresponsible and has no interest in acquiring international cooperation. It is almost entirely driven by corporate interests.
These Neo-Conservatives claim believe that we have a duty to impose a “democratic” government and “freedom” upon the rest of the world. This is a crusade, not just against Islamic terrorists, but also upon all the countries of the world without a democratic government and a “free trade” system. Notice that the trading system is not only part and parcel of the package, but the driving force (money) behind it. Any country with a “free trade” system is acceptable. We must look for opportunities that are winnable and democratize the world a little at a time. This will require continuous, reasonably small, and containable wars for the foreseeable future. Hence, the need arises for the continuation and expansion of our formidable industrial-military complex.
The Liberals have decried the Iraqi Invasion, but have failed to gain the support necessary to effectively oppose the principle itself. Neo-Conservatives have successfully equated support of the war with support of the troops, and thus have been able defeat the opposition as being un-patriotic.
The Iraqi war is not going well and the public mood is no longer supportive. Traditional Conservatives and long-time incumbents are disassociating themselves on other issues even now. We are still three years from elections. There is still plenty of time for the Conservatives to re-arrange the deck chairs and regain public confidence. If they can wind down the activity of the Islamic resistance, and maintain the economy for a while longer, the Liberals will again, be whistling in the dark.
The current and probably permanent corporate control of congress is a logical extension of the principle that “the people that own the country should run it” and even the Liberals in this country no longer care to argue the point. The corporate world has bought its way into the government and large corporations are now “de facto” priority and conservative citizens.
Conservatives encourage upper class and corporate tax cuts to shift the tax burden onto the middle class and the Liberals have been unable to make a politically viable case for the middle class.
Many middle class people go to the same schools with the upper class, socialize with them at the Country Club, business meetings, fund-raisers, and political rallies, etc. Many enjoy association with the wealthy and influential, and thus they become proselytized Conservatives by the mere “rubbing of the elbows”. Liberals are ostracized as “bleeding hearts” or socialists.
What about the issues, especially in the media? The media pits liberals against conservatives in television shows designed only to amuse the public. Even the newspapers only run headlines and quote politicians in “sound bites”. There is a quick summary of events or quotes by politicians, but no discussion of relevance. It is politically incorrect for the public media to seriously discuss political events in context, as this would be taking sides in a political fray.
Conservative religious views (read Judeo-Christian) in the United States correlate with the conservative political views, and this makes it difficult for anyone in the clergy to disagree with them. With perhaps 75% or 80% of the public against homosexuality and abortion, it is difficult for the liberals to make the case that it is not the governments place to interfere in these situations. Any one defending the rights of such people are viewed as either favoring these practices or not caring about the issues.
Liberals are always concerned about the poor and want an increase in welfare, or training, or workfare to improve their lot. Conservatives often think these people are usually getting what they deserve. They tend to think, “the poor will always be with us” and would like to dismiss the issue.
Liberals are also concerned that the very wealthy do not pay their fair share of the taxes. Since they have gained the most from our system, they should pay at least as much as others and probably more. Conservatives believe that whatever the individual can acquire he should be able to keep. The only reason the middle class even exists, is because the wealthy have created industry and commerce to provide them with a means to make a living.
Conservatives often accuse liberals as being Socialists because they are involved in many social issues. They are strong environmentalists, always concerned about civil rights, safety, etc. They are strong supporters of “promoting the general welfare” and protecting individual rights and civil liberties.
Conservatives object to the teaching of sex in the schools, and object to gun control. They believe in traditional roles for men and women. Liberals see a need for early sex education, equate gun control with general safety, and think that because most women have to work, they should have the same opportunities and should be treated as equals with men.
Conservatives do not believe that social justice should be pursued; rather it will eventually evolve if left to the natural course of events. Liberals believe that government should encourage social justice.
Not many people fully agree with a full slate of issues from either side. When the time comes to vote, they will usually vote for candidates supporting the issues that weigh heavily upon them at the moment, and will also hesitate to make unnecessary changes. This has historically given the conservatives a decided edge.
We are living in difficult times and the average family needs both parents to work in order to maintain a reasonable standard of living. Most children are forming their personal opinions of the world from the influence of their teachers and peers. The family unit is no longer the prevailing influence upon the majority of children.
Family debt is at a record high and the cost of education is outrageous. The education of our children is no longer a choice; it is an absolute necessity for their long-term survival. These kinds of pressure incline people to “go along to get along”.
A certain level of continuous war is an accepted fact by citizens that have been at war for most of their lives. To most people, this does not seem like a good time to rock the boat, and many are afraid that the Liberals would do just that. Conservatism in America is riding high and will probably continue, at least for the foreseeable future.
The terms Liberal and Conservative in the social sense is not quite as settled and yet easily understood within a given culture and a given time period.
In the social sense, from colonial times, there have been at least two classes of citizens involved in our government. There is the ruling class; that the niceties of language usually refer to as the upper class, and the middle class. Then there was the lower class that was not involved in our government. These were people without property and therefore could not vote. When this class finally acquired the vote, they also acquired the name of working class. These were mostly the new immigrants and indentured slaves. With the shortage of labor in the agricultural economy of the revolutionary period, almost every white man who wished, could acquire property and be reasonably successful by the age of forty.
The well educated were mainly lawyers, merchants, and very wealthy farmers and businessmen. These along with a very few highly successful skilled craftsmen comprised the upper class and were in command of the legislatures. They were the Conservatives in every sense of the word. They felt that “the people that own this country should run it”.
By the time the Revolutionary War broke out, the English regarded them as rebels, insurrectionists, and the liberals, demanding representation in their governance.
The leaders of a rebellion are by their nature Conservative, in the sense that they seek exclusive power. Notice that people without great means and busy making a living do not instigate, plan or organize rebellion and insurrection. They will however supply the manpower for a cause that seems right to them. It is only people with time on their hands and with some education that enter into discussions about changes that would lead to insurrection. Only the educated can plan a successful rebellion, and it is only the wealthy that can fund it. It is however, the middle class that usually must shed the blood to see it through.
Our founding fathers constituted a new government that was already Conservative. And Conservative it would remain. Early on the Federalists were staunch supporters of a strong centralized federal government and were the Conservatives. People like Jefferson, supporting states rights and a minimal federal government were considered liberal. Passions were so high that even many people in government and on opposing sides, did not speak to each other. Liberal issues and views tend to change with time and circumstance. Conservative views change slowly and over time its power is consolidated. It is only possible to get a reasonable picture at a given point in time. So let us consider the moment.
We are currently in a consolidated Conservative period with little Liberal influence. There is a relatively new or, Neo-Conservative movement in control of the Government. Much to the consternation of the traditional conservatives, this movement is fiscally irresponsible and has no interest in acquiring international cooperation. It is almost entirely driven by corporate interests.
These Neo-Conservatives claim believe that we have a duty to impose a “democratic” government and “freedom” upon the rest of the world. This is a crusade, not just against Islamic terrorists, but also upon all the countries of the world without a democratic government and a “free trade” system. Notice that the trading system is not only part and parcel of the package, but the driving force (money) behind it. Any country with a “free trade” system is acceptable. We must look for opportunities that are winnable and democratize the world a little at a time. This will require continuous, reasonably small, and containable wars for the foreseeable future. Hence, the need arises for the continuation and expansion of our formidable industrial-military complex.
The Liberals have decried the Iraqi Invasion, but have failed to gain the support necessary to effectively oppose the principle itself. Neo-Conservatives have successfully equated support of the war with support of the troops, and thus have been able defeat the opposition as being un-patriotic.
The Iraqi war is not going well and the public mood is no longer supportive. Traditional Conservatives and long-time incumbents are disassociating themselves on other issues even now. We are still three years from elections. There is still plenty of time for the Conservatives to re-arrange the deck chairs and regain public confidence. If they can wind down the activity of the Islamic resistance, and maintain the economy for a while longer, the Liberals will again, be whistling in the dark.
The current and probably permanent corporate control of congress is a logical extension of the principle that “the people that own the country should run it” and even the Liberals in this country no longer care to argue the point. The corporate world has bought its way into the government and large corporations are now “de facto” priority and conservative citizens.
Conservatives encourage upper class and corporate tax cuts to shift the tax burden onto the middle class and the Liberals have been unable to make a politically viable case for the middle class.
Many middle class people go to the same schools with the upper class, socialize with them at the Country Club, business meetings, fund-raisers, and political rallies, etc. Many enjoy association with the wealthy and influential, and thus they become proselytized Conservatives by the mere “rubbing of the elbows”. Liberals are ostracized as “bleeding hearts” or socialists.
What about the issues, especially in the media? The media pits liberals against conservatives in television shows designed only to amuse the public. Even the newspapers only run headlines and quote politicians in “sound bites”. There is a quick summary of events or quotes by politicians, but no discussion of relevance. It is politically incorrect for the public media to seriously discuss political events in context, as this would be taking sides in a political fray.
Conservative religious views (read Judeo-Christian) in the United States correlate with the conservative political views, and this makes it difficult for anyone in the clergy to disagree with them. With perhaps 75% or 80% of the public against homosexuality and abortion, it is difficult for the liberals to make the case that it is not the governments place to interfere in these situations. Any one defending the rights of such people are viewed as either favoring these practices or not caring about the issues.
Liberals are always concerned about the poor and want an increase in welfare, or training, or workfare to improve their lot. Conservatives often think these people are usually getting what they deserve. They tend to think, “the poor will always be with us” and would like to dismiss the issue.
Liberals are also concerned that the very wealthy do not pay their fair share of the taxes. Since they have gained the most from our system, they should pay at least as much as others and probably more. Conservatives believe that whatever the individual can acquire he should be able to keep. The only reason the middle class even exists, is because the wealthy have created industry and commerce to provide them with a means to make a living.
Conservatives often accuse liberals as being Socialists because they are involved in many social issues. They are strong environmentalists, always concerned about civil rights, safety, etc. They are strong supporters of “promoting the general welfare” and protecting individual rights and civil liberties.
Conservatives object to the teaching of sex in the schools, and object to gun control. They believe in traditional roles for men and women. Liberals see a need for early sex education, equate gun control with general safety, and think that because most women have to work, they should have the same opportunities and should be treated as equals with men.
Conservatives do not believe that social justice should be pursued; rather it will eventually evolve if left to the natural course of events. Liberals believe that government should encourage social justice.
Not many people fully agree with a full slate of issues from either side. When the time comes to vote, they will usually vote for candidates supporting the issues that weigh heavily upon them at the moment, and will also hesitate to make unnecessary changes. This has historically given the conservatives a decided edge.
We are living in difficult times and the average family needs both parents to work in order to maintain a reasonable standard of living. Most children are forming their personal opinions of the world from the influence of their teachers and peers. The family unit is no longer the prevailing influence upon the majority of children.
Family debt is at a record high and the cost of education is outrageous. The education of our children is no longer a choice; it is an absolute necessity for their long-term survival. These kinds of pressure incline people to “go along to get along”.
A certain level of continuous war is an accepted fact by citizens that have been at war for most of their lives. To most people, this does not seem like a good time to rock the boat, and many are afraid that the Liberals would do just that. Conservatism in America is riding high and will probably continue, at least for the foreseeable future.
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