Redstate

By perico Posted in Archived — Comments (5) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

Fred Thompson best represents the fundemental ideas of that the modern conservative movement is founded upon. Reagan was the great leader of the movement, but so many have distorted his legacy that it's next to impossible to come to a concensus opinion on his legacy. This writer tends to go back further than the Great Communicator. Thompson is no Ronald Reagan, but the root of their philosophy comes from the same source. There is no alternative, in this writer's view.

The 21st century is quickly becoming the era of the statistical result. This is the era of text message, cell phone, myspace. Statistics and fresh ideas are turning the future into today. The great problem that no one seems to be addressing is the one of philosophy and principle.

Are 21st century republicans defined by conservatism or moderation? Will the Republican Party be one of policy or philosophy? Once upon a time, the Republican Party nominated a candidate who was nicknamed “the ultimate problem solver.” This candidate was legendary in the business world; known as someone who bought failing companies and turned them around. By the age of forty, he was worth over 250 million dollars (by today’s standards). He was an economic genius. He was brought in to turn a failing agency and turned it into a successful enterprise. Who was this candidate? Herbert Hoover.

You see, conservatism isn’t grounded in creating new policy, new processes, or new solutions. Those are part of the equation, but do not define the GOP. Conservatism, the philosophy that Goldwater brought back to the party, is a philosophy that does not become outdated. Conservatism cannot be redefined or improved. It cannot be updated to meet the times one lives in. It is a set of values and principles that are applied to the problem, not an economic philosophy, or a social theory. Conservatism is limiting the functions of the federal government, not fixing it. It is a system of restraints against the natural tendency of government to expand in the direction of absolutism.

Goldwater said, “The turn will come when we entrust the conduct of our affairs to men who understand that their duty as public officials is to divest themselves of the power that they have been given.” It is the first principles, and it is the final principles that the Republican Party has strayed from. The aim of conservatism is not to streamline the government with policies or repair to make it more efficient, but to reduce it in size.

Most importantly, it is not the aim to implement new programs that define conservative principle, but to cancel old ones that overstep their reach.

Does the party define the philosophy, or does the philosophy define the party?