This post is meant to be an introduction of sorts, the kind that is read somewhere down the line by people curious about me and why I do what I do. I’m a Christian conservative that enjoys honest political debate. I think conservatism is the best political ideology and I think free market capitalism is the best economic model. Married, four kids, good job, generally happy with life.
I think conservatism can stand up to scrutiny and I prefer to debate real liberals rather than straw men arguments that are easy to knock down. That is probably the overriding reason I’ve decided to come here instead of any other kind of political site. If you spend your life in an echo chamber, you’ll feel really good about yourself but you won’t have gained much.
While I’m perfectly comfortable discussing the conservative viewpoint, there are a few things to say up front:
-1. I don’t defend Rush Limbaugh. Yes, I’ve listened to him for years and agree with a lot of the basics. However, I’ve noticed over those years that he’s grown more disconnected with ‘regular people’ and it shows in the way he addresses his callers. He’s got his own show and can handle himself without my two cents.
-1a. That goes for Anne Coulter and Michael Savage as well.
-2. I tend to say what I mean and mean what I say, not what you think I meant to say or what you extrapolate from what I say. Just because I say I believe one thing doesn’t mean the opposite of that thing is evil incarnate.
-2a. Sometimes I speak in clever hyperbole. (Even though I realize I am not as clever as I think I am. It’s a contradiction I’ve learned to live with.) When that happens and you apply some kind of context to me that I don’t intend, I’m sure we will discuss it.
-3. I’m not exactly sure what I hope to accomplish here other than understand the liberal mindset. I’m not going to change your minds and you’re not going to change mine. Given that, sometimes the best we can do is have a bit of fun. A very wise, and surprisingly liberal Marine Corps officer once told me, "If you’re not having fun then you’re missing the stinkin’ boat."
-4. I will admit that ‘teabagging’ is an extremely unfortunate rallying call. (Really, is Google such a difficult thing to check?)
-5. I've only read about 70 to 80 pages of Atlas Shrugged. Good grief that's a big book.
So, all that said, my basic take on the difference between conservatism and liberalism is that of a contest between freedom and equality. The website conservative-resources.com sums this all up much better than I can but for the most part (and to over simplify the argument) a society can either have freedom or equality but not both. The more freedom you have the more our inherent differences will separate the winners and losers. The more equality you have the more the truly exceptional have to be held back in order to maintain an equality of outcome. The push and pull between those two competing beliefs produces the modern American political spectrum.
Most of what I say or do revolves around that theory. I am comfortable with a certain amount of inequality in society if that is how we produce prosperity. I think that in the long run we need a productive (wealthy) class of people who help bring about prosperity for everyone. I would rather have a top income bracket of a bazillion dollars if that means we keep the median income bracket at 30-40K. (Or whatever, I’m making these numbers up to make a point.) Bringing down the top income bracket with confiscatory taxation of 70-90% may raise the bottom bracket by a smidgen but it has the consequence of dropping the median down.
Basically, I’m a small government guy. Taxes and regulations are necessary to a point but after that, they just become burdensome. Government should protect our natural rights and provide for the common defense. Other than that, I don’t see much need for it. Maybe a nice city park now and again. But that’s about it. (And Yellowstone. Yellowstone’s frakkin’ awesome.)
So I’m glad to be here and I’ve been encouraged so far by what I’ve seen. Here’s to the future.
EDIT- Holy smokes! I thought this would get like a few comments or something. Not 157! I'm doing my best to provide personal answers but it's a touch overwhelming.
EDIT2- 237 comments and counting. Lots of good stuff to think about. I'm working up thoughts on how to proceed so that you can all benefit from thrashing a conservative. ;)