CONSERVATIVE POLITICS
Rep. Mike Morley
Last fall, an article in the Deseret News named me the “reddest of the red”, the most conservative legislator in Utah. While I have consistently scored well with such conservative groups as The Utah Taxpayers Association, GrassRoots Utah, Accountability Utah, The Sutherland Group, and others, it did get me thinking about conservative politics – what causes a person to be labeled a conservative and is that an accurate representation of my political views? I’d like to share a few ideas.
The British statesman Edward Burke defined conservativism as “a disposition to preserve and an ability to improve.” More specifically, political conservatives:
• Advocate smaller government and less government intervention in a citizen’s private life
• Support traditional moral values
• Encourage restraint in governmental taxation and expenditures
• Argue for a strong national defense program
• Oppose federal involvement in promoting social welfare (it is not the government’s job to redistribute wealth)
• Favor a free market system with minimal government involvement
Thomas Paine asserts in his Dissertation on First Principles of Government that “He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.” In short, a conservative is someone who maintains the proper role of government for everyone, someone who is not influenced by one special interest group over another, but remains true to their convictions in every facet of government.
Well, I could go on and on, providing definitions of a conservative subgroups – classical, social, religious or fiscal. I could relate numerous instances (a tax burden of 26% for the average family, a host of well-meaning social programs, cumbersome business regulation) where, even on a state level, we do not uphold the conservative leanings held by a majority of our population.
Instead, I will close with a quote from Ezra Taft Benson who many years ago wrote a book entitled “The Proper and Improper Role of Government”. After describing in great detail his views of the government structure envisioned by our Founding Fathers, he made the statement, “To be sure, there are times when this principle of the proper role of government is most annoying and inconvenient.” A true principle has to meet the litmus test of whether it is the right thing to do with someone else’s money, regardless of whether it feels good.
So, despite differing opinions and paradigms which often necessitate compromise for the greater good, we all have the opportunity and responsibility to stand up for what we think is right. It does take effort and it is not often convenient, but it works and I guess, in the end, that is the beauty of our form of government.
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