What is Conservatism?

“What is Conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried against the new and untried?” – Abraham Lincoln. Balanced budgets instead of profligate spending. Man and woman marriage, not gay marriage. Fidelity, not promiscuity. Gentle reason rather than name calling. [Too many of today’s self-proclaimed conservative commentators have abandoned this one.] Sobriety, modesty and temperance and happy marriages represented in music and arts, rather than drunkenness, obscenity, lewdness, lust, and decadence.

Critics of the old ways often cite the following quote attributed to Socrates by Plato, as example of how people are always complaining of loss of old ways and gentility among the young. "The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.”

However, these critics fail to note that it was indeed that generation of youth who led the decline of Athens. Some sentiments of the current tea party folks appeal to the true conservative, but it appears the Republican establishment has so far left its conservatives roots – as exemplified in Lincoln – that they no longer value or recognize the conservative values.

In morals and manners old ways are the best, and our serious digressions from them cannot bring happiness. An ancient prophet’s words regarding th restoration of the resurrection apply here: “Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness. Alma 41:10, Book of Mormon.