What kind of conservative?

Are you conservative? If so, what kind? Take the test.

The late William F. Buckley, considered the father of modern conservatism, was never satisfied with a simple definition of conservative,  but he knew when someone wasn’t one. Buckley, a brilliant debater, defined conservatism by his writings, debates (1969 from YouTube), and speeches. He was

• an unflinching basher of liberalism
• author of God and Man at Yale, Ronald Reagan: An American Hero, and Up from Liberalism,
• founder of the National Review,
• host of Firing Line, and
• a harsh critic of George W. Bush.

Are you a Buckley conservative?

If William F. Buckley was the father of modern conservatism, Barry M. Goldwater is considered the Godfather. As a politician, he defined conservatism in the mid to late 20th century. He was

• the force that launched the conservative revolution within the Republican Party
• author of Conscience of a Conservative
• firm believer in civil rights, choice, and equality for women and gays
• possessor of a quick, pithy wit and a sharp tongue
• an advocate of fiscal conservatism, personal responsibility, and civil liberties and considered by many to be a Republican libertarian.

Are you a Goldwater conservative?

John W. Dean, former White House Counsel, sometimes columnist, and author of several books including Conservatives without Conscience (New York Times review), writes about authoritarian conservatives, a concept advanced by social psychologist Bob Altmeyer in his book The Authoritarians. Authoritarian conservatives are in sharp contrast with Goldwater or libertarian conservatives.

Dean, Dunn and Woodward, Altmeyer and others characterize authoritarian conservatives (sometimes called right-wing authoritarians) as

• believing in traditional social and religious values
• distrustful of change
• concerned with order
• desirous of having government protect and enforce those beliefs

Are you more of an authoritarian conservative?

Those are three sharply contrasting conservative positions. Are you close to one of the three? There are other definitions and camps. Maybe you would like to think of yourself as something else.

I had some fun with an on-line test  called IDEAlog about a year ago, and I was surprised by where I fit into the political spectrum. It will force you to examine values and terminology. Try it. I’ll bet you learn something about yourself. (Click on Run the IDEAlog.)

photos by flickr by And all that Malarkey and edwardleger