How far have we wandered?

In thinking about being Liberal or Conservative, I have always considered myself as an open-minded conservative. I had to ask what it really means to be “Conservative?”

Here is what I found. A Conservative is someone who generally prefers traditional values. There is a resistance to rapid change or political transformations, favoring institutions and practices and advocacy for limited government intervention in the economy while upholding social normalcy, customs and traditions. The term typically has been applied to the Republican Party.

The big three characteristics would be a preference for tradition based on historical precedent backed by established practices. Secondly, there is a cautious approach to change — perhaps a skepticism of a sudden shift in policies or practice. Thirdly, there is support for free markets, individual liberties with a strong national defense. In practice there should be a lot of questions, debate with compromise.

When I read this, I think to myself that I fit this definition of being a Conservative with the caveat of being open to change or persuasion after a discussion with people who are perhaps more informed than myself. I believe most people who read this would agree they value moving along at a pace that produces positive, well thought out and implemented change for the majority.

Having watched the current administration go through its gyrations of announcing policy, back pedaling, circumventing norms, trashing long-held alliances, interfering in sovereign nations, ballooning the national debt, favoring the few while citing made-up family values to get an emotional response is something other than what being a “Conservative” is supposed to be.

Examples of a departure from Conservative norms or practices would be as follows: Public education is over 400 years old, starting with the pilgrims and going through a long transformation to what we have today. Now there is a break for private school vouchers and underfunding the public system. Roe vs. Wade (repealed in 2022 after 50 years) was built on the women’s right to vote amendment of 1920, potentially being undermined by the SAVE Act, which may include “Jim Crow” type policies and a suggested federal election law undermining the states' rights at controlling how they wish to conduct federal elections, which has been in place for almost 250 years.

The idea of precedent, the building of laws, is based on our English ancestors' actions. William the Conqueror established the first law courts after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The principle of precedent is supposed to ensure consistency and stability in all legal decisions. This is known as “stare decisis,” Latin “to stand by things decided.” This mandates lower courts follow the rulings of higher courts in similar cases, creating a hierarchy of legal authority. This allows for a process of well thought out reasons for establishing or changing a law. In any ruling it is of paramount importance to “cite” precedents.

I would submit the current administration does not stand by things decided, nor is it truly conservative.

Ed Gallagher

Coshocton