Conservatism Today

Politics today seems to be more about shouting insults than offering solutions. Fox, MSNBC, Donald Trump, all seem to be more interested in ratings than the issues faced by every day Americans. At this point, we are all numb to it. For years we have looked at politics in terms of red and blue and have failed to consider the motivations of our counterparts. We have refused to listen to any opposing ideas, and arguments now occur more frequently than discussions. As students at Middlebury College, we see this occurring on a daily basis. This has led us to a point where progress no longer seems possible. We believe that progress can be made with thoughtful political discourse. To us it seems that the solution to our current problem lies in better understanding the values and principles that guide us. In this spirit, we would like to introduce our values and principles.

We believe that every person has the right to work towards achieving his or her dreams.

We believe that every American is a unique individual and not simply a member of a group. We believe that each individual knows how best to achieve his or her own happiness. We are conservatives.

With Donald Trump and Ted Cruz both throwing around the word conservative so much, it is often forgotten what the word really means. When defining conservatism, it is important to remember what is being conserved. Fundamental to conservatism is the preservation of our founding principles, the right to life, liberty, property and the federal structure of our nation. These principles guide our understanding of policy, the role of government and how we solve the many issues facing our nation today. It is clear from this that Donald Trump and Ted Cruz are more concerned with promoting populism and the values of the religious right than in conserving these principles.

Conservatives care about the first generation college student who could not find a job. Conservatives care about the little girl who grew up in a poor neighborhood who was forced to go to a failing school when there was a successful one a district over. Conservatives care about the skilled immigrant who wants to start an auto shop, but does not have the money nor the English skills to comply with the licensing requirements. Conservatives care about the single mother who has to work multiple part-time jobs because she cannot find full time employment. Conservatives care about the average American.

We need to change the way that we go about our political discourse, and we want this article to start the discussion. We hope that we can focus our conversation on policy solutions rather than political attacks, and we hope that we can go beyond the talking points and delve deeper into the substance of the issues. Only through thoughtful debate and discussion can we truly achieve a more perfect union.