In today political world, there are people calling themselves "Compassionate Conservative." This means that they care about others, as well as about values such as liberty, and that they work to conserve the defining values of America (In the scope of this article, please understand "America" as "the United States of America" except when I explicitly write otherwise). These people, "Compassionate Conservatives," declare wars on Liberalism, which is broadly understand as Democratic party, non-Christian ideals, and anything related to the government except eliminating it. There question here is: Are these self-proclaimed "Compassionate Conservatives" Compassionate and Conservative at all?
To demonstrate their compassionate side, these Conservatives show statistics where they (conservatives) give to charity more than liberals. 30% more. In the 2000 election, 24 out of 25 states which gave more to charity voted for Mr. Bush, the conservative candidate. Furthermore, conservatives also help others by fighting for tax cuts, which everyone is supposed to enjoy, and eliminating of the government, which supposedly free all people. So compassionate, they tell themselves and others. Really?
As a matter of fact, most of the money given to "charity" is given to churches, only 10% of which is given to parachurch organizations which will actually give to the unfortunate. This is, of course, not the end. These parachurch organizations only help people who attend to their worship service. In short: if you don't agree with Christianity, no help for you. Of course, common sense tells us that such thing is not charity. It is missionary, spreading faith, whatever, but not pure charity for sure. But, oh well.
On the other hand, other social activities which also help out the unfortunate, such as Medicare, MediAid, universal health care, free lunches at school, breakfast for poor children, etc. are passionately hated by "Compassionate Conservative." Statistics shows that these programs are constantly under-funded in Conservative State. Oh, of course, the government may restrain your freedom! This leads us to the next point...
Conservatives love to say that "when you give someone a fish, that person can survive one day; when you give someone a rod, that person will survive a life." Charitable organizations are fish. They simply help out the immediate needs of the unfortunates. They do not improve the legal and social situation so that these people can succeed. Only the government can do that. Actually, it is the government's job to create a society where many many people can succeed. However, Conservatives prevent such thing from happening. They severe the government, render it unable to anything for its constituency. So compassionate, right?
However, Compassionate is only the adjective in the term, how about Conservative, the noun? Are these so-called "Compassionate Conservatives" really Conservative? Do they conserve the traditions of their nation? To know that, let's see what is the traditions of America! According to Alexis DeTocqueville in his classic _Democracy in America_, four defining properties of this promising lands are:
Democracy. Not just political democracy, but the whole society is dyed in democracy: everyone is taken in account, no one is left behind. E pluribus unum, One out of Many, the de facto motto of this land, expresses such spirit.
Equality. DeTocqueville was surprised at the economic equality of America. He estimated that even the largest estate would disappear in 2 to 3 generations, instead of sticking around forever like European situation at that time. This, DeTocqueville asserted, is the reason behind the Democratic Society: only Middle Class, who stand between the Elite and the mass poor, can sustain Democracy. Middle Class was American Majority.
Separation between Church and State. Granted, America was a largely Christian nation. However, not American government. American government was created, and remained, a secular government. Founders refused to endorse or support any particular religion group. First Amendment explicitly forbids such practice. This separation further bolster Democracy, because no religious groups can gain governmental power to depress any other groups.
Lastly, the love for intellectual. Some people in America gained influence comparable to Aristocrat in Europe through their knowledge, only that this influence would not be inherited. Many great writers and thinkers, including luminaries such as Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, etc., have made this land their home and nation. This allowed the land to have a Law that is considered to be the best ever been, American Constitution.
So, how much do today Conservatives conserve?
Granted, they want Democracy. One check.
Conservatives speak of Equality with contempt, sometimes hidden behind rhetoric, sometimes explicitly. They even describe it as the opponent of freedom. What? According to above, Equality sustains, protects, and expands freedom. Oh, of course, if you define "freedom" as "ability to buy," equality indeed stands in your way, since it would prevent some people from buying something, such as power. Conclusion: no conservation here.
How about the separation between Church and State? Of course, let us be reminded "charitable money" of conservative is spent in missionary and spreading faith. So is their political actions. They advocates for prayer in public schools (of course, Christian prayers ONLY). They despite everything that is non-Christian. Many one-issue Conservative voters choose something in their religious faith as their issues. Conservatives also push for their doctrine, that God created the world, to be taught in public school.
Wait, I almost forget, churches actively advocate for Conservative candidates. This is not, of course, something I imagine. These are well-documented in mainstream media during the last election cycle, when voters are pressured by their churches to vote for such and such candidates, and vote against such and such candidates. Conservative websites accuse liberal candidate as Muslim and Godless and you-name-it. You see, the church and state are so well separated that we can hardly see them apart. Another off.
Lastly, one of Conservative signature in election is the hatred for "elitism." Whenever some candidate, especially non-conservative one, say something seemingly smart, that candidate is immediately marked as "elitist." When the President-elect chose a cabinet full of people from top-notch universities, Conservatives believe that these people would panic if something bad happens. Meanwhile, conservative candidates desperately display themselves as "average" people. Let us be frank: do we want average people to be our leaders? What is the definitions of leaders again? These are enough to say how far from traditions these self-proclaimed "Conservatives" are. Yet another point off.
Now, 3 out of 4 points are off. So Conservative, eh? Wait, that's not all. Some conservatives start to scream recently that America is not Democracy, but Republic (never mind what those term mean). Yeah, half of the remaining point is off, too. 0.5/4. 12%. Extremely conservative!
Now, who are "Compassionate Conservatives" again? If you notice, I have been wrapping this term with quotes the whole time. Because they are not what they are called. They only label themselves as such to deceive, don't they? I don't know. Personally, I have seen real compassionate "conservative" (meaning that they are really compassionate, but they share "conservative" policies). Therefore, I believe that these people do not really want to deceive. No, I think they are the deceived ones. After all, everyone likes traditions and freedom and you-fill-in-the-blank. Using this, some entities deceive the people amass, turning these people into some weird ideologies. Let us help them, then. Let us point out that their policies are neither compassionate nor conservative, only their personalities are. Let us help them find their true views, that are in line with their ideals. Because to change, to correct one's mistakes are traditions of America.