I am a Christian/Cultural/Social conservative. This comes right out of my being a Christian and how that is what defines whom I am.Yet, Conservatives being truly conservative consistently and not only for free or free(d) markets with no social views is consistently misunderstood. As well as being constantly silenced from the broader conservative movement as a whole.
Social conservatism is a “commitment” to making your life, and those people around you, much better. To do this, social conservatives often attempt to influence legislation pertaining to everyday life. In fact, the truth is the term can be seen as far back as the election of Abraham Lincoln whom ran his anti slavery ticket as being socially conservative getting back to the Innaliable rights of the Founding documents.
One could not consistently be for small, but, smart (and sacred) government while being culturally free for all. This is because any intervention into the market somehow will be restricting choices; self autonomous self governing on all issues leads to anarchy and a chaotic untenable society.
I will put the topic and then my current views on said subject. Using the list in this article as an outline.
Emphasis on Religion
For the most part, social conservatives are rooted in Judeo-Christian tradition. Many social conservatives have many of their other beliefs rooted in religion, usually Christianity (Protestantism, but occasionally other sects like Catholicism).
For the most part, this is to do with morals. Religion, through its various sacred texts sets the benchmark for what is morally and ethically correct for humanity. Without them, who knows what could happen…
Anti-Abortion
And that’s the bit that people often forget. Most social conservatives understand that if both the child and the mother will die, an abortion should be carried out. After all, two deaths are worse than one… even if that is a bit cynical.
Regardless of their reasons, they vehemently oppose any lifting of conservative abortion laws. When a new abortion-related law is passed or is being debated, they are often the ones marching that it should not be passed. I fully support treating abortion as a form of fetuscide under the law of the land. What the legal outcome is, is a constant debate amongst pro-lifers.
Gun Rights
Social conservatives are strong believers in the Second Amendment in the US. For them, they believe that the government shouldn’t intervene in day-to-day life, unless you are breaking the law in some way. (I support the right to self defense with a gun in all Countries not just the US.)
As such, many of them are firm believers that as the Constitution says you can bear arms, you can do so as you please. As long as you aren’t using them illegally of course.
Depending on the person, they may have stronger or weaker opinions on this. For some, it is merely that the Constitution says you can bear arms, so it is your right to do so if you please.
On the other end of the spectrum, some believe that it is your absolute right to bear arms. Even if that includes three rocket launchers, six Gatling guns, twenty-five assault rifles, eight shotguns and ten pistols.
Naturally, that is a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the idea. I fall into the first category and consider the second one to lack any idea of social cohesion or safe communities.
For some, this also extends to things like universal background checks. Some believe that you should have one, only to prevent dangerous criminals from obtaining one, whilst others believe they violate the Second Amendment.
Many others extend this to hunting as well. Many of them believe that it is not the government’s place to tell them whether they can or can’t hunt animals. Instead, it should be up to the land owner, or the hunter themselves. I follow the idea of the land owner unless there is an overriding consideration such that it is not possible to let the animal be killed.
Anti-Drugs
For many social liberals, and some conservatives, drug use shouldn’t be a crime. Instead, it is ONLY a public health concern and is a cry for help from users, or is a way to vent out stress, rather than harming people or property.
However, social conservatives would vehemently disagree with that. In its place, some would say that it is a sign of moral failing. I would talk about the damage that drug addiction can do. Whilst many users may take drugs in order to relax, often due to high stress work environments, and in order to not physically hurt people, they hurt them in another way.
In the place of physical violence, drug addicts may in turn damage expensive personal belongings whilst they’re high. By the same token, they may accidentally hurt the ones they care about most.
The largest reason social conservatives oppose drugs is the increase in crime that accompanies a drug addiction. Addicts will do anything for their next fix, and when they don’t have the financial resources to fund it, they often turn to crime.
During the 1980’s, when social conservatism was at its height, these worries led to the sale and possession of drugs becoming illegal. This inadvertently led to the War on Drugs which is still going on to this day (sort of).
I only support the idea of a Health based outcome for drug offenses if it is done while keeping the drugs themselves illegal. I am against legalization or decriminalization of drug offenses. However, I would be willing to compromise with having the outcome for offenses where there is no victims be enforced time in rehabilitation and recovery while still being held in a jail or prison between coming/going to recovery.
Or better yet place recovery programs into the prison systems. Once someone is safe for themselves and their communities under this compromise they would be let out of jail. However, if any crime other than recreational drug use is involved they should have swift justice and locked away from society and long as is deemed necessary even up to life depending on what they did to others.
Opposition to Gambling
Many social conservatives are against gambling because many of them have seen, or can see, the damage a gambling addiction can do. It’s not the physical act they have an issue with, but the addiction that often comes with it.
And it’s this addiction that they are opposed to. This addiction can destroy families, whether physically, emotionally and/or financially.
Several social conservatives have seen firsthand what a gambling addiction can do to good people- it can ruin their entire life! Often, they become distant and refuse to go to work, all in order to feed their addiction.
Many social conservatives have seen that government attempts to regulate the industry are always flawed somehow. This sees gambling addicts continue to feed their addiction.
They have also found government attempts to “help” gambling addicts to be as ineffective as their regulations. Often, after being “helped” many of these addicts relapse.
So, the best way to prevent them from getting addicted is for them never to start in the first place!
