To Conserve, As in Conservatism

To keep from loss, decay, waste, or injury; preserve.

Definition, To Conserve

 I view the word conservative as a derivative of the word conserve. We want to converse our money. We want to conserve our wealth. We want to conserve. We want to be smart. We want to be smart where we go, where we spend, how we spend. We want to conserve our country. We want to save our country. And we have people that have no idea how to do that and they are not doing it, and it’s a very important word and it’s something I believe in very, very strongly.

Donald Trump,  GOP Debate, February 6, 2015

Donald Trump  made a good point in last night’s GOP debate when he traced the derivation of  the noun “conservatism” to  the verb “ to conserve.”

Cast in this derivative light, “conservatism” has merits.

Its aim is “to conserve” what’s good about America and what contributes to its strength as a nation.

Conserving America is best achieved  by conserving.

·          Reliance on  truths of the Constitution with its emphasis and Checks and Balances of three branches of government with freedom of choice and liberty for all. 

·          Preservation  of traditional American values – self-responsibility,  marriage and family,   religious faith, and government for the people, for the people, and by the people. 

·         Equal opportunity for all, as opposed to equal outcomes for all. 

·         The power  of free market enterprise from the bottom-up  rather than on federal coercions  and regulations from the top-down.

 

·         The elixir of economic growth as the best means of lifting the most people up and relieving poverty for most, while providing for those truly in need.

·         The freedoms to speak one’s mind with straight talk, unvarnished truths, without undue concern about political correctness, of fear of offending someone,  somewhere, somehow.