Today’s conservative believes in certain fundamental ideas, which in turn drive policy and voting decisions. Liberalism and Conservatism have both evolved over the centuries, and as the culture has evolved, both philosophies have adjusted to include questions that their originators could not have foreseen. Here are the principles of conservatism that I would cite.

#1 Equality of opportunity
Civil liberties must be upheld to the degree that equal opportunity is provided to everyone

In a free society, equality for all is difficult to achieve except in the sense of equality of opportunity; equality of outcome cannot be achieved. The best that we can hope for is a just and free society where some evils and suffering will inevitably exist. Equality of opportunity does not guarantee success; individuals must accept responsibility for their own success and failure.

It is wrong to restrict the freedom of some to provide equality of outcome to others. The principle of equality should not impinge on freedom; freedom is more important than equality. Interference by government will limit the potential of the individual; rational individuals know their own best interests. The government’s role is to create equality of opportunity by eliminating restrictions, not by creating new restrictions that favor those deemed to have less opportunity.

#2 Individual responsibility
Liberty demands self-restraint and individual responsibility

In an open and free society, individuals possess the means and the opportunity to accomplish anything. Likewise, individuals have the means and opportunity to fail. Individuals must accept responsibility for their own prosperity; one must not rely on the government to level the playing field through wealth redistribution, or to provide that which cannot be obtained individually.

#3 Private property rights
Private property rights encourage prosperity, responsibility, and general cultural advance

The institution of private property has been a powerful instrument for teaching men and women responsibility, for providing motives to integrity, for supporting general culture, for raising mankind above the level of mere drudgery, and for affording leisure to think and freedom to act.

The possession of property fixes certain duties upon the possessor, who must accept the associated moral and legal obligations. The more widespread is the possession of private property, the more stable and productive is a society.

Private ownership is not an entitlement; the opportunity for ownership is an individual right that must be maintained. The opportunity of ownership should be protected, but the price of ownership is determined by the free market. In support of individual property rights, the government must not infringe on these rights through the use of confiscation without due process.

#4 Free market
Economic prosperity is best created through free markets with minimal government interference

When markets dictate prices through the mechanism of supply and demand, individual consumers are better served. The customer always acts to satisfy his or her interests by seeking the very most and best at the lowest possible price. The free market exemplifies the concepts of natural selection and survival of the fittest.

By definition a free market is free from government regulation; the role of the government is one of oversight. In a free marketplace, all individuals are free to participate and all individuals are provided with equality of opportunity. Protectionist trade policies are damaging to the marketplace; market institutions should be protected only to the degree that a clear national or economic interest is at stake. Obsolete industries and poorly run businesses should succeed or fail as determined by the marketplace and not as a result of government interference.

#5 Fair taxation
Economic leveling, a progressive tax system, and the redistribution of wealth only serve to inhibit economic progress and restrict societal prosperity

Individuals are best left to manage their own affairs as far as wealth creation is concerned. Taxation is a means to encourage some types of behavior while discouraging others; it is best used as an economic tool and not as a tool to engineer society. A progressive tax system inhibits the opportunity of some in order to provide an equal outcome to others.

A reasonable tax rate should be set that allows the government to collect enough taxes to cover its expenditures. When tax revenues exceed expenditures, taxpayers should be refunded the difference; when expenditures exceed revenues, the government should reduce spending. Because of the dynamic nature of taxation, increases in tax rates do not necessarily correlate to higher tax revenues, and lower tax rates do not necessarily correlate to lower tax revenues.

Cigarette taxes discourage smoking; income taxes discourage income; capital gains taxes discourage profitable investment. Consumption taxes discourage consumer spending while encouraging savings. The fairest tax system is one that taxes consumption at a flat rate. In the absence of a flat consumption tax, every effort should be made to flatten tax rates and eliminate deductions and loopholes. A simpler tax code increases tax revenues while reducing the cost of tax collection.

#6 Limited government
Government must be limited in its power and responsibility. The role of the federal government is to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for a strong national defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty.

Our Constitution is an instrument of delegated powers thus, our federal government only wields power as provided by the Constitution. Government must not do for individuals what individuals can do for themselves. Government is to be a servant of the people as represented by the majority.

Corollary A: Checks and Balances The power of the government must be limited or checked

A just government maintains a healthy tension between the claims of authority and the claims of liberty. A state in which an individual or a small group are able to dominate the wills of their fellows without check is a despotism – even if it’s called a democracy

Corollary B: Local Government Decisions most directly affecting the lives of citizens should be made locally

If the functions of community are transferred to distant political direction, real government by the consent of the governed gives way to a standardizing process hostile to freedom and human dignity

Corollary C: Long-Term Decision-Making Public policy should emphasize long-term effects over immediate political gain

Any public measure ought to be judged by its probable long-run consequences, not merely by temporary advantage or popularity. Tax policy should reflect the long-term consequences (both positive and negative) of changes to the tax code.

#7 Strong national defense

Our officials must always act to preserve the sovereignty of these United States, protect the integrity and self-determination of the state, and not concede power to some other authority. Government officials must show the determination to resist every encroachment that can curtail the just rights and settled privileges of the state as well as its institutions.

Protection of U.S. sovereignty requires a strong military presence throughout the world in order to protect our interests and our allies. A weak military or deference to international organizations risks the encroachment of U.S. sovereignty.

Officials must attempt to expose and refute anti-American sentiment both inside and outside our borders.

Source Material
Sir Robert Peel
National Federation of Republican Assemblies
The Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal

I'd love to hear your input.

-tsc