The State v. Conservatism

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I'm back! Here is a post regarding my view of Conservatism:

Being a Conservative....means you don't hang out with the "Cool" people in society. (Ask yourself this, how many Conservative movies get made in Hollywood?) Trust me, it is harder to be a Conservative in a Blue State(s), then to be a Liberal in a Red one. But, what sort of issues made me a Conservative? Truth be told, I have a Libertarian streak, but in the real world, Libertarians never get elected. Republicans get elected, not Conservatives or Libertarians. Here is why:

1) State as Mammon. The same State that can fund you, can also determine how you live (speak to any Welfare recipient). If you see the State as benevolent (i.e. WPA works during the Depression), you also depend on a Caesar. If you know your Emperors, there were good ones, such as Augustus, Claudius and Marcus Aurelius, but there were bad ones as well. To be dependent on the State put the individual at the mercy of an Augustus or a Caligula.

2) The Individual v. the Mass. In every pre-1977 Sci-fi Universe (and that includes Star Trek), the mass of men are decided by the rule of a few. Conservatism fights for the right of the individual to say "No!" Don't believe me? The rule of law in a Socialist Society (where the far left of the Spectrum ends up), is based on the mass' rights over the individual. I remember pictures of Soviets waiting in line for Toilet paper. If the State deems Toilet Paper is not essential, then the individual loses.

3) The Nanny State. I don't smoke. I even cough when someone smokes. Sometimes I ask my friends to put out their cigs, sometimes I ask for one. But when the State comes in and orders you....well, the best description is the Government brings a Gun to the table when everyone else brings cards. In NYC, the nominally GOP Mayor Bloomberg signed a law stopping Transfats. OK, but what if Avacados are discovered to be bad for your health, then what? The State is based on whims of people (other then you) who control your life. Conservatism believes in Man's fallability, Liberalism expects perfection from birth.

These are my main beliefs. There are differences with the Social Conservatives, but I can fit easier into a room with Christian Conservatives who disagree with me then with Liberals who believe I should be sent to a Gulag for voting for Bush.