Realm of the Coin What is a conservative? What do they do? What does is it mean to be conservative? Consulting the dictionary, I find it to mean "favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change." Happy Independence Day, as fine an occasion as any to be asking such questions, which probe the very nature of modern America. Examining things closely, is there really that much difference between the Republican Party and the British Empire prior to the American Revolution? Before we shook off the yoke of tyranny, King George III had his own vision for this country. It was one that favored traditional views and values, and tended to oppose change. If you thought conservatives were already rabid with power, then you may not have the stomach for what is about to happen with the Supreme Court. Republicans are out for blood, and they can smell it - this would complete a political tilt in America that would be seemingly insurmountable. Those who haven't been paying much attention to their government lately may find themselves shocked at the way the hickory will be swung by our highest-paid public servants. Suppose Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's replacement is tabbed, someone palatable enough for Senate approval. That's a sound strategy for George W. Bush; it may even put some sails back in his approval ratings. But what about the next round, when William Rehnquist finally succumbs to his health problems? Not only does President Bush get to nominate another conservative judge (the degree of which we'll have to wait and see), he also gets to plug in a new Chief Justice, likely a Party hard-liner like Clarence Thomas, or a starry-eyed theocrat like Antonin Scalia. This would produce the filibuster war that John McCain has delayed. Thumbs turned down in unison, conservatives will hiss and screech that now is the time to cement their monarchy, to deal the death blow to the Democrats and to liberalism at large. This is their chance to restore the country, not just to what it was before the New Deal, but to the way that inspired the Founding Fathers to revolt. And those in command would be all too happy to oblige. The Supreme Court will then become a right-wing rubber stamp, which will affect all Americans in untold ways. There is no question that there will be a certain tightening of our freedoms. We may not be losing liberties the likes of which most people would enjoy, or find tasteful, or which they might even vehemently oppose, but they are freedoms lost nonetheless. And if they can limit your liberty in one way, then they can limit it in other ways as well. But what about that forty-seven percent? You know, that "minority" of Americans swept up in the dragnet of conservatism? Just as the British had so little respect and so much disdain for those Americans who opposed them, so do conservatives of marginal and prolific significance alike. Consider the post-election comments of Grover Norquist (as accurate an example of a contemporary conservative as there ever could be) regarding the role of the opposition in our representative government: "Once the minority of House and Senate are comfortable in their minority status, they will have no problem socializing with the Republicans. Any farmer will tell you that certain animals run around and are unpleasant, but when they're fixed then they are happy and sedate. They are contented and cheerful. They don't go around peeing on the furniture and such." Talk about opposing change... Any farmer will also tell you to avoid stepping in the cow manure; it turns out Norquist is also an exemplary conservative in financial circles. He's going to get sucked under along with lobbyist Jack Abramoff and others connected with an ugly Indian casino scam, in which the influence of Tom DeLay was peddled to enrich their fellow men of "traditional views and values". Indeed, Norquist's name is splattered all over the papers - the ones that are the subject of an extensive Senate investigation, led by McCain, who continues to lever himself away from the neo-cons in his obvious bid to become president. At this point in time, that would not be a bad thing. By 2008, it may no longer matter. Paul Heller 7/04/05 << back to the archives
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