Hello, my name is Michael, and I am a conservative.

But, where are the others? There have to be plenty of us who share an ideology. I can’t be alone. I think differently, but not that different. My background is atypical for a conservative, but that does not account for anything. I developed a rebellious, nonconformist worldview — but that is the heart of conservatism.

This article was to be a brief introduction to my political ideology. When I couldn’t name many contemporary conservative voices to reference, this morphed into a juxtaposition piece between conservatism and the theatre of the absurd portrayed on TV and embodied by the loudest voices in the Trump movement.

So, start again, shall we?

Hello, my name is Michael, and I am a conservative.

When you read that sentence, I bet your mind conjured up a caricature of me. It has nothing to do with who I am, but the media has reduced us to political cartoons with exaggerated features. You hear Conservative or Liberal and think of a person who is nothing like you and has nothing to offer but wrong opinions. Almost non-human.

I have nothing in common with the politics we see in the news or online. It’s the Upside-Down from the series Stranger Things. In reality, it’s all a show designed to turn the news into a commodity ($$$). It is lock, stock, and barrel the political WWE. Those putting on the show are in on it, and the politicians (performers) are in on it. The talking heads and everyone else are all in on it. You know it’s true.

My ideology has no relation to daily news or even Republicanism. Call it Trumpism. In fact, both parties have cut moorings with objective truth completely. They don’t care about the rule of law — it’s enforcing a worldview centered on power. Those with power know making tough decisions and solving problems make it harder to hold onto said power. So they use wedge issues to divide us and make us angry, and that makes us stupid and easy to manipulate

Modern politics runs on craven hunger for power. The ends always justify the means — ignoring the Constitution or storming the US capitol — all excusable in pursuing power. Helluva a day’s work, if you can get it, Chief.

And why stop when it’s working? If I was a soulless demon, I wouldn’t. We must stop being manipulated. You have to speak out. Remember, the news is an entertainment commodity, and you are a consumer. Until they hear you, the show goes on.

So what is conservatism to me? I believe in preserving the philosophy of the Revolution. Conservatism was established with the Declaration of Independence. It was made real in the Constitution. Our hymnal is the gospel of the Federalist Papers.

We get criticized for hating change, and it’s a valid criticism. It is easy to just say no, but you have to find a way to say yes sometimes to govern. Change must be constitutional, not half-cocked proposals fueled on outrage and loaded with pork, but change is not bad.

I read what the Framers read, what they wrote, and what they studied to form my worldview. I read the State of Nature, discussions on the social contract, and ideas like the consent of the governed. I read french democratic philosophers like Voltaire. Reading Wealth of Nations, I understood the rationale for capitalism and its pitfalls. Finally, I believe the Federalist Papers are a seminal read for all Americans.

I believe our nation is unique. Instead of consolidating power, as almost all revolutions do, the Framers divested control quickly. They created a system of equilibrium and equality of opportunity (slavery will always be our original sin and we must not be afraid to discuss it rationally because it’s legacy is still with us). The brilliance lies in the design being underpinned by an understanding of human nature.

Unlike the bloody foolishness of Marxism, which assumes that all men are angels, the American way pits our worst instincts against itself. As a defense-in-depth, a divided government creates layers of checks and balances. Federalism, bicameralism, and the Bill of Rights established tension. That tension created balance and fairness. If my rights are interdependent on your rights, there’s a mutual interest in the status quo. Add a melting pot culture, and we have a flexible but sturdy system.

We’re a bunch of selfish bastards, but if you mess with one, you get us all. I liked that when we used to believe it.

So what’s cracking the system now? What has changed?

John Adams sums it up:

Adams also said:

Adams articulates a universal truth — Mankind is not evolved enough to live in a completely free society. Society would crumble with no moral compass or ethical guideline to check our worst instincts. However, we cannot govern through faith and emotion. As Jedi say in Star Wars, emotion leads to the dark side. Remember, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Collective morality and ethics are necessary checks against the state of nature. Without it, the state must step in as God. No more sin, but everything is illegal and punishable by death. No one wants that.

At the end of the day, conservatism isn’t easy. Without intellect and discipline, it can be dangerous. It requires we hold opposite but not opposing views at the same time. For example, I believe in delayed gratification and acting selflessly, but I am also selfish. I am independent but willing to serve. I resist government control, but I will do my duty to sacrifice if required by my nation.

I believe that a high-performing, limited government, coupled with a strong culture that guides the behavior of the collective, is the best way.

Man is always the weak link in any system. When our system fails us, it is we who fail the system.