Opinion by John Liming
Once in awhile I like to strip the pretense away from the image that calls itself “Conservative” and give people a little look at what really lies beneath the masks they love to wear.
In my view, there is nothing more historically “Hypocritical” than the ideology we know as “American Conservatism.”
I have discovered that many who espouse this way of politics are masters at the art of doublespeak (Talking out of both sides of the mouth), of projecting their failures onto others and of twisting the truth and inventing outright fabrications when it is convenient to advance their cause or give them an advantage.
One thing I do believe is that if Conservatives had gotten their way in the days of The American Revolution, you and I would be English Citizens today.
If Conservatives had prevailed, there would have never been a Constitution, a Bill of Rights or a United States of America.
According to the best available and most reputable histories, The Conservatives were just as “Status-Quo”-oriented then as they are now. They hated change back then and they hate change now.
In the early days of what was to become America, Conservatives were mostly wealthy merchants involved in international trade (Does that tell you anything?), they were fiercely loyal to The Crown and they openly opposed the idea of Revolution and Independence for the fledgling nation.
They actually feared the idea that the “Rabble” from the streets would take control of the government. They much preferred the “Security” of English Royal Rule.
Now when you look at the Wall Street Protests, you can get an idea of how they must be thinking about the “Dirty Hippie Rabble” from the streets. (And maybe you can get a clearer understanding of why they think that way.)
In the Colonial Times, when it came down to a choice between protecting their American Rights and their loyalty to The King, The King won the day with the Conservatives.
In my view, this explains why Conservatives are seemingly always so much more enamoured of foreign governments than they are of our own.
Is this why they cannot resist the temptation to take jobs away from “The Rabble” and send them over seas to foreign markets?
Could this be the reason for what often seems to be their historical preferential treatment of foreign governments?
By the 1750s it was abundantly clear that the Conservatives were interested more in gaining power, establishing churches and protecting land holdings—and protecting slavery in every colony–than anything else.
How can this be explained about the Conservatives who are always harping about the true intent of The Founding Fathers and are always waving the Flag in great outward shows of patriotism and loyalty to American ideals?
Well, for one thing–it was the same then as it is now. Conservatives resisted innovation. They hated the idea of change. They worshipped the status quo. They thought it was morally wrong to resist the Divinely-Instituted Crown of their King. The believed in Rule by Divine Right.
I believe that in many respects, most Conservatives still believe in the” Rule by Divine Right ” idea. The difference is that instead of an external King, they seem to have decided to apply the Right of Divine Rule to their whole deluded gang through myth-applications of King James “Christian” Scripture.
The Conservatives in Colonial times were just like many of the Conservatives of our own times– they feared that the “Common” man of the streets, Mr. and Mrs. Average American, were capable of establishing disordered and dangerous “Mob Rule” with the slightest provocation.
I imagine they felt it was to their advantage to protect their privileged elitism then the same as now.
They seem to have been fully as smug and arrogant back then as many of them are today. That much, at least, has never changed– and most likely, never will change.
So do not get in my face and tell me how “Patriotic” Conservatives are. If it were not for the courage and determination of Liberals and Progressives, there would not be an America for many of the Conservatives to loot and pillage.
Read Further:
http://www.ask.com/wiki/Conservatism_in_the_United_States
Recent reader discussion...