Conservativism and Liberalism

What is conservativism? What is liberalism? Most people, seeing that I support Obama, and seeing the other things that I write in my blog, would naturally think I'm very liberal. But what does that mean?

I voted for George Bush in 2000 because I believed what he was saying, and Al Gore seemed too unstable a personality for the job... at the time. What was Bush saying? He was going to restore dignity to the White House. By that, he meant that Clinton, through his personal actions, had brought shame on the Presidency and the White House. As much as I liked Clinton's policies, and his ability to deal with problems, his personal problems with chasing women were, in fact, pretty embarrassing. Bush also said that Clinton had been too adventurous, sending troops into Bosnia and Mogadishu. I wasn't highly critical of Clinton for those moves. I was generally supportive. But I believed Bush when he said that America shouldn't be in the business of "nation-building." I agreed with Patrick Buchanan when he said that America shouldn't be in the business of empire building. Isn't it a conservative sentiment to be strong on defense, but to reserve that strength for defending the homeland rather than being adventurous and aggressive overseas? Bush also represented, in 2000, a Christianity that sought to defend itself against an onslaught of secularism that seemed bent on denying our right to express our faith in this country. I agreed with that. Bush also said that he stood for a "compassionate conservativism" that helps people rather than alienating them. I was all for that. Finally, Bush was for modernizing the education system so that "no child would be left behind." Very inspiring words.

But now I despise Bush. Why? Because he lied to us. And he hasn't fulfilled any of this promise.

I was a middle of the road voter who swung Bush's way rather than Gore's NOT because I was a fanatic right-wing nut, but because of the above points. But soon after the election, it became clear that the administration, and the party, was not in the hands of George Bush. It was in the hands of people like Karl Rove and Dick Cheney. It was in the hands of neocons like Paul Wolfowitz and Donald Rumsfeld. The decent Republicans like Colin Powell were soon marginalized. And I began to realize that George Bush was either an idiot that was being used (which might be true) or he was a lying S.O.B. who was in cahoots with the above mentioned Gang of Four.

To truly modernize the education system so that no child would be left behind, we would have needed to fund the programs. But the right-wing ideologues wouldn't dream of funding a government program properly. In fact, everything they did pointed to a strategy bent on destroying the federal government by underfunding everything. Except the war machine, of course. Bush's "compassionate conservatism" was also doomed to failure, because it, too, was underfunded. People began leaving the program about as soon as it was established, because they realized that it was an empty promise. Rather than defending Christianity's position in this country, Bush further marginalized it by bringing to the fore its worst features. Eight years later, I believe Christianity is in a far worse position in this country than it has ever been before. I'm almost ashamed to associate myself with Christianity. Who with a conscience would want to associate with Christianity if its use of power includes lying about weapons of mass destruction that didn't exist, launching a preemptive war against a country that was little or no threat to our national security, doing everything possible to enrich the rich and dispossess the middle class and poor, underfunding programs to help the poor and elderly, breaking the Constitution out of fear by authorizing illegal wiretaps, ignoring the principle of habeas corpus, doing everything in its power to break the principle of checks and balances, and even hiding and then defending the use of torture? This is the United States of America? It's the not the U.S. that I was raised to believe in. Something went terribly wrong, and unfortunately the Christian right, which is the loudest segment of Christianity in this country, has defended this treason and treachery to the hilt. Bush was against nation-building, but his entire administration turned into one of not only nation-building, but empire-building. And far from restoring dignity to the White House, he has single-handedly made the presidency ridiculous. At least Clinton could think and talk. At least Clinton was an impressive figure on the world stage. World leaders liked Clinton. They admired him. (If only he could have realized that for as long as he was in office, he needed to behave with some sexual restraint, his presidency would have been highly respected.) But Bush? He's horrible. He doesn't seem very bright. He can't think on his feet, certainly. He can't give a speech. He has alienated most of our allies throughout the world. He has lied to us and to the world. And he has been continually deceptive about what he is doing. It's so bad that he has even established a precedent for Putin ("I have looked into his eyes") to thumb his nose at democracy while saying, essentially, 'if you can do it, I can do it, too'.

Am I a horrible "liberal" for wanting education to be funded and for us to have a decent health care system? Margaret Thatcher wanted those things for her country, so give me a break! Am I a horrible "liberal" for not wanting my country to torture people? For not wanting the system to be set up in a way that disproportionately favors the rich and dispossess the middle class and the poor? For not wanting to launch unnecessary preemptive wars? For not wanting to build empires? For not wanting our kids to be killed in the process thereof? Bush has killed more of our people through his policies than the terrorists ever dreamed of killing. I am a progressive conservative in the classical liberal tradition that supports freedom. I think that's what Obama is, too. I used to think McCain was, too, but his rhetoric is either just pandering to the right (in which case it's a lie), or he's a selfish right-winger who will bring shame to America and Christianity as well... following in Bush's footsteps.