To me calling someone a conservative person suggests a person who is cautious and careful. They avoid unnecessary risks, choosing the safe, low risk path over the the path of higher gain but more risk of loss.
The oil spill in the gulf is a reminder of how in politics, where money is involved, the term conservative consistently gets stood on it's head. More off shore oil drilling has been a big "Conservative" goal for years. Now the nation faces billions of dollars in economic losses, and huge impacts on the natural environment because we downplay the risks of drilling for short term energy gains.
Nuclear power is regaining steam as a "Conservative" issue now that memories of three mile island and Chernoble are dimming.
Deregulating business is a always a big "Conservative" political goal, despite a long history of market folly leading to economic collapse.
Global warning doesn't exist say many "Conservatives". So lets keep on doing what we are doing and ignore the hints of possible future disaster in the science.
People with the instincts of riverboat gamblers have managed to co-opt the label "Conservative".
Sunday, May 2, 2010
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