What Does It Mean To Be a “Conservative?”

For a half century before the election of President Ronald Reagan, it was politically acceptable throughout much of America to describe oneself as a “liberal” or a “progressive.” Since the election of President Reagan in 1980, it is increasingly difficult to find a self-admitted “liberal,” but politicians of all stripes and philosophies are happy to call themselves conservatives.

Within the Republican Party there are “economic conservatives,” “social conservatives,” “religious conservatives,” “fiscal conservatives,” “neoconservatives,” “paleoconservatives,” and given the enormous growth of government in the past decade here in South Carolina and at the federal level where most Republicans consider themselves conservatives, it appears there are even “big government conservatives,” or as they prefer to call themselves, “compassionate conservatives.” Indeed, both of our political parties contain a mixing of political philosophies, and this mixing can even be found within single candidates and elected officials.

To make matters even more confusing, the terminology we use for describing the major political philosophies has evolved to the point that what we regard as conservative today is really classical liberalism, which was the philosophy of Jefferson and the signers of the Declaration of Independence. It is the philosophy that permeates our founding documents and strongly shaped American thought and history until fairly recently.

Many Americans are frustrated by the inconsistencies, contradictions, and compromises that are all too typical of so many holding offices today. Accordingly, in the coming weeks this blog will attempt to objectively address the history of the conservative movement, its major thinkers and political practitioners, its major philosophical foundations and ideas, and how those ideas translate into policy today.

I am convinced that the ideas upon which our nation was founded account for the freedom and prosperity that we have enjoyed for much of our history and that when we depart from those principles our economy suffers and the social fabric of our nation begins to fray. I am also convinced that only when we understand the great principles, formed through centuries of experience, secured through much bloodshed, and upon which our nation was founded, can we ensure the survival of our great republic, which is, in the words of President Reagan, “the last best hope of men on earth.”

The subject I will tackle in coming weeks is large, but it is an exercise that I believe is important to our state and nation. As always, I hope you will share your thoughts and join the discussion.

Constitutional Amendment: A Trojan Horse?

The solution for South Carolina’s low SAT test scores and its high dropout rates has been much debated. Now a well-meaning group of citizens are suggesting that our state constitution might be holding us back. That constitution mandates a “minimally adequate” education for all students.

There are those who believe that if we change our constitutional mandate for education, our education problems will be solved. Accordingly, an effort is underway to amend our constitution to replace its current mandate for “minimally adequate” to “high quality education, allowing each student to reach his highest potential.”

Who among us could oppose such a noble intent? Certainly, all of us want every student to reach his or her highest potential. And South Carolina for many years has backed up its commitment to its youth with educational spending that places us among the most generous states, particularly as a percentage of per capita income.

Our education leaders often remind us that South Carolina’s education standards are among the highest in the nation. Thus, one might wonder why the wording of a centuries old constitution should matter. If our constitution has not prevented us from establishing some of the highest standards in the nation, it certainly would not prevent us from meeting those same standards.

Those behind this effort to change our state constitution know that if they can change the wording of the constitution, they can circumvent our State Legislature and file suit, as they have done in 45 other states, to get our State Court System to mandate large increases in education spending. In effect, this approach would mandate large increases in taxes as well.

The educational establishment is right in setting high standards for student performance. But reasonable people would be justified in asking whether that establishment has made “minimally adequate” use of the generous resources already provided by the taxpayers of our state. When we require that our education system focus our education tax dollars on teachers in the classrooms, instead of on large administrative bureaucracies, we then will truly begin to offer a high quality education where each student will be allowed to reach his or her highest potential.

Jesse Helms - True to His Convictions

Winston Churchill once remarked: “You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” Senator Jesse Helms, who passed away on July 4th, built a career on standing for principle against sometimes fierce personal opposition.

The personality trait uniting most politicians is a consuming desire to be liked. Over time, this trait leads many people to take the path of least resistance, or to take positions that are likely to please as many of one’s base as possible regardless of larger consequences. In politics, the “go along to get along” approach can win friendships and the approval of the media, but it doesn’t always serve the larger interests of one’s constituents and the nation.

Jesse Helms was guided by the North Star of what he viewed as right and true. He would as readily challenge Presidents of his own party as he would those of the opposition. One journalist in his home state of North Carolina aptly said of him: “He was not a consensus builder. He didn’t want everybody to vote for him. He just wanted enough.”

As the senator himself put it, “I didn’t come to Washington to be a yes man for any President, Democrat or Republican.” And through a thirty year career that included chairmanships of the Senate Agriculture Committee and later the Foreign Relations Committee, Jesse Helms became one of the most reviled politicians in America for defending his sincere principles. He relished the title of “Senator No,” given to him by his detractors, and kept a big rubber “NO” stamp on his Senate desk.

In 1975, Helms helped arrange a visit to the United States by Alexander Solzhenitsyn. Both Secretary Kissinger and President Ford refused to meet with Solzhenitsyn for fear of offending the leaders of the Soviet Union. Kissinger even forbade State Department employees from attending a major speech Solzhenitsyn delivered in our nation’s capitol. Senator Helms skewered them both for “cowering timidly for fear of offending Communists.”

Over the years Senator Helms voted “no” on higher taxes and on bills designed to increase the size of government. With 60% growth in the size of the federal government during the past eight years, his lone and principled voice is sorely missed.

He voted “no” to seriously flawed international treaties that he felt would undermine American sovereignty and the rights of individual Americans. He voted “no” on foreign aid to third world thugs. He voted “no” on many objectionable nominations for government and diplomatic posts. He voted “no” on taxpayer funded abortions including those in military hospitals. He voted “no” when the National Endowment for the Arts was funding blasphemous, homo-erotic art.

He opposed efforts to limit the Constitutional right to bear arms. He opposed unfair quotas and set-asides. He mobilized hundreds of thousands of citizens in opposing compulsory unionism. And he did all that, and much more, while maintaining a reputation as one of the Senate’s most courtly and gentlemanly members. Madeleine Albright once described Helms as "the kindest, most infuriating, politest, most aggravating and nicest politician I had to deal with in the United States Senate.”

Jesse Helms knew that the greatest service he could render to his country was to be true to his convictions, regardless of how unpopular they may be, and to say “no” when the mob was surging in the wrong direction. For his faithfulness and courage, all Americans are indebted to Jesse Helms. He was a remarkable and unique public servant.

Wishing You a Safe, Blessed, and Happy Fourth of July!

The Fourth of July is the great summer holiday when families come together to enjoy cook-outs, patriotic music, fireworks, and all that has traditionally accompanied our nation’s birthday celebration.

Communities throughout South Carolina will sponsor an array of parades, festivals, and concerts, many culminating with extraordinary firework displays. These great events will be part of the best memories our children will carry through their lives. That is why I would like to suggest that among all the happy events of the day, families pause to realize that this day also represents the extraordinary faith, courage, and dedication of our nation’s founding fathers.

One good way to discern the character of perhaps our most noted founding father is to consider George Washington’s “Earnest Prayer.” The great General, facing military retirement at the close of the Revolutionary War, was in Newburgh, New York on June 14, 1783, when he released a “Circular Letter Addressed to the Governors of all the States on the Disbanding Army.” General Washington wrote in his letter:

“I now make it my earnest prayer that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in His holy protection; that He would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow-citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for brethren who have served in the field; and finally that He would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation.”

In these times, no less than in Washington’s time, our nation needs such a spirit of service and dedication. And none should question that it especially needs his “earnest prayer.”

We wish you and yours a safe, blessed, and happy Fourth of July!