Re: The Power of the SCOTUS III: Roberts' Rules of Order
"The key thing here is not to confuse a conservative with a member of the radical right. A conservative isn't for a God fearing nation in which non-believers are prosecuted by the law. They'd rather have people go to church on Sundays on their own free will. They would appreciate not being treated like a villain because they do go to church, pray before a major event, or place a symbol of their faith in a public area. They don't want to tear down crosses that have been in place for more than fifty years because someone has suddenly found a symbol of their faith insulting.
"In a funny way, conservatives do believe that people should have a lot more freedom in how they can act. They feel that if you own a business, then you have the right to say who works for you. That means you don't have to hire someone to satisfy some equal opportunity criteria. Of course, that does deny equal opportunity to some people but it isn't a result of a dictate by law.
It isn't that they are pro-war, pro-business, or anti-gay.
Problem is that these traits of telling others how to live and pro war almost defines today's self proclaimed conservatives...and therefore appear to be radical right based in his defintion.
27% of conservatives vs. about 50% of independents/liberals opposed the Iraq war in 2003
http://www.gallup.com/poll/7699/bla...-groups-most-likely-oppose-iraq-invasion.aspx
52% of Conservatives thought Obama would go too far on supporting abortion vs. 19% total
http://www.people-press.org/2009/10/01/support-for-abortion-slips/
85% of conservatives vs. 45% overall oppose allowing gay marriage
http://www.pollwatchdaily.com/2011/05/07/305/
"In a funny way, conservatives do believe that people should have a lot more freedom in how they can act. They feel that if you own a business, then you have the right to say who works for you. That means you don't have to hire someone to satisfy some equal opportunity criteria. Of course, that does deny equal opportunity to some people but it isn't a result of a dictate by law.
Based on poll numbers, today's conservatives (which seems to be radical right) believe they should have more freedom to act...but that others should have less.
""A conservative is basically against change. They'll admit that things may not be exactly fair, but the correction should be a minor tweak of the system and not the elimination of the system. That's the real definition of a conservative. They just don't want radical change in how things have been up to now.
"I'm not saying that conservatives are entirely right. Some of their opposition to change allows civil injustices to continue. I'm just saying that is the last kind of person who would adopt radical change in the American political system,"
He does appear correct on conservatives of all stripes not being too excited about innovation:
6% of scientists call themselves conservatives, 55% call themselves liberals
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/10/only-six-percent-of-scien_n_229382.html
I would argue that even this somewhat idealistics version of conservatives resistant to change is counterproductive.
Today its hard to find folks against society advances in terms of slavery, child labor, women's sufferage. Yet nearly all had incredible hurdles due to those who resisted change (and by this defintion, were conservative). On the other hand, innovators have driven advancements in healthcare including life saving medications and technology such as the automobile that have revolutionize society productivity. So saying 'I am supportive of substantial change that happened before...just not today' is IMO shortsighted and does not help anyone in discovering the next great advancement in society.
Just to show an extreme example, all indications are that those with a conservative mindset did not support US independence from Britain. From wiki, Yale historian Leonard Woods Larabee has identified eight characteristics of the British Loyalists that made them essentially conservative:
-Psychologically they were older, better established, and resisted innovation.
-They felt that resistance to the Crown—the legitimate government—was morally wrong.
-They were alienated when the Patriots resorted to violence, such as burning houses and tarring and feathering.
-They wanted to take a middle-of-the road position and were angry when forced by the Patriots to declare their opposition.
-They had a long-standing sentimental attachment to Britain (often with business and family links).
-They were procrastinators who realized that independence was bound to come some day, but wanted to postpone the moment.
-They were rightly cautious and afraid of the chaos stemming from mob rule, which did cost many their property and security after the revolution.
-Some say they were pessimists who lacked the confidence in the future displayed by the Patriots, while others point to the memory and dreadful experience of many Scottish immigrants who had already seen or paid the price of rebellion in dispossession and clearance from their prior homeland.
