I am a conservative because I was raised on the premise that you get what you put in, and that you can’t expect others to swoop in and save the day. I believe that anyone, if they put the work in, can be successful. That success isn’t how much money you make or how educated you are, rather it ishow you live your life and whether you can feel content.
This hardworking mentality coincides with how conservatives view government. A quote by Thomas Paine perfectly explains a conservative’s view on government: “Government, even in its best state, is a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.” This basically means the government is always going to be bad, but we do need it to run our country effectively and to avoid anarchy. A conservative wants the government to provide police, roads, military, etc: the basic needs. I believe, as a conservative, that government should keep the peace and provide equal opportunities, not equal outcomes. This means that the government should not guarantee success, that it should only keep the playing field level.
Another conservative frame of mind is the idea of keeping things old fashioned. Generally conservative values align with those of Judeo-Christian values. This ideology is not theological but more ethical and almost a way to live your life. Basically, you don’t have to be Christian to be conservative and vice versa.
A conservative’s view on illegal immigration is a perfect example of looking at the means and not the ends. A conservative would say that our country is facing a serious problem with illegal immigrants entering the United States from Mexico and that we must find a solution to this problem, whether that is building a wall, random ID checks or increased border security. I’ve heard many people claim that conservatives are racist and just don’t want Mexicans in the U.S. That is simply untrue. Conservatives want illegal immigrants out of our country, not specifically Mexicans. In fact, people in Mexico who are going through the legal process to get into our country are unable to come over due to all of the illegal immigrants.
It is very hard to be a conservative these days. Just look at the media and how it negatively represents conservatives. To be a conservative one must step back, look at the straight up facts and then form an opinion. You must be willing to work hard and not rely on anyone else to help you succeed.
– By Tanner Althoff
