Friday, November 7, 2008

What Is Conservative?

Matt Lewis at Townhall.com gave this answer to a reader asking about the core principals of conservatives:

"In his classic book, "The Conservative Mind," Russell Kirk established six "cannons" of conservatism, which on Wikipedia, Russello (2004) has abbreviated as follows:

1) A belief in a transcendent order, which Kirk described variously as based in tradition, divine revelation, or natural law;

2) An affection for the "variety and mystery" of human existence;

3) A conviction that society requires orders and classes that emphasize "natural" distinctions;

4) A belief that property and freedom are closely linked;

5) A faith in custom, convention, and prescription, and

6) A recognition that innovation must be tied to existing traditions and customs, which entails a respect for the political value of prudence. "

I think that pretty well sums it up. After reading that who wouldn't want to be a conservative?

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