To be a true conservative is to respect one’s fiduciary duty
Law-and-order is the loud refrain from “conservative” candidates. Their constituents are often disorderly or provoke their opponents to disorder. Civil order occurs when there is mutual respect between government and the governed. The more heavily armed police seem to be in the most disorderly cultures. Are they a symptom or perhaps the cause? Heavy security apparatus implies “We don’t trust you.” In well-disciplined England, most police officers are unarmed. If the government must resort to military force, they no longer have the consent of the governed. Ideally, we would have order without need for law enforcement because the laws would be so reasonable that no one, well hardly anyone, would feel the need to behave otherwise.
There is a difference between conservative, reactionary, fundamentalist and stubborn. A true conservative examines a proposition in light of his education, experience and ethics, not blindly following party, church or personality. Then seeks the greatest good for the greatest number.
Some people who claim the title of Conservative try to dishonor liberal writing by citing the factoids previously rebutted. They, tell me I do not have a conservative bone in my body, call me evil names like Liberal, Democrat and Socialist. They ask how can you be so blind. To what? I think many who claim the conservative title are better described as fundamentalists, committed to the literal interpretation of an ancient document or dogma and that’s OK for religion. The Constitution pointedly separated religion from government. “… no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.” Unlike religious writings, the Constitution has a provision for amendment. The founders were living in the most progressive time the world had ever known they knew that many things would be changing.
Fundamentalists do not understand that in the greater world liberal is a compliment, it means generous and open-minded. I have been a registered Democrat most of my life except when I was a Libertarian, or even Republican. I might be a Republican again, if there is anything left of the party. Maybe the Lincoln Project, rebel Republicans, will start a new Lincoln Party, conservative in the original meaning. In Hawaii to be anything but a Democrat keeps you out of the loop, but the evil liberals designed a ballot that allows Democrats to vote in the Republican primaries and vice versa. I vote the person, not the party.
As an engineer, I have been trained to be conservative in my decisions. Run the calculations twice. When in doubt, assume the worst, then double it. When all the engineering is done, step back and look at it again to see if it also looks right. A hillbilly (no insult) carpenter once advised me wisely “Kin if’n you make it too stroang no one’ll iver know.” Likewise, if our military is too strong no one will ever know, as long as they respect civilian control. On the other hand, if it’s too expensive and we go broke, like the Soviet Union, everyone will know.
To be a true conservative is to respect one’s fiduciary duty. Place the client’s needs above your own. Whether you are an engineer, lawyer, physician or politician. Residents, collectively, all residents, are the politician’s clients. Not just their party, church, neighborhood, lodge or other identifiable interest group. Professionals who do that are usually very successful. Those who do not have short spectacular careers with an embarrassing ending.
We have had some true conservatives in national politics, Eisenhower, Goldwater, Bush Sr., Dole, Romney and some others I’m not so sure of. There are lots of fake conservatives, often admired by Republicans, but weak when it comes to fiduciary duty to the nation.
A true conservative considers things from many sides to avoid making a mistake or following a path with excessive risk. They would not blindly follow a church, party or personality. Some of the worst outcomes in history came from blindly following a charismatic leader. Hitler, Mussolini, Lenin, Pol Pot.
Ken Obenski is a forensic engineer, now safety and freedom advocate in South Kona. Send feedback to obenskik@gmail.com