Changing Conservatism

CONSERVATIVES have an inherent, fundamental problem. Well, at least one, and probably more, but one in particular comes to mind now. Namely, the world, and its history, moves from right to left. Liberalism, essentially, is the philosophy of change, conservatism is tradition. And change, alas, is what the world does. Tradition gives way to change, at one pace or another. Its only a matter of time; the world changes, its traditions evolve, and are swept away altogether, slowly or quickly, as the case may be, over time. Today's conservatism is yesterday's liberalism. Today's liberalism is tomorrow's conservatism. Conservatism, for example, is closely associated in America with the Christian faith, which is withering away, as church membership declines inexorably in America and Europe, and society is secularized. Christianity, the words of Jesus, strongly support socialist values, like giving to the poor, values which we hope will remain when all the dogma is gone, replaced by science and common sense. "Render unto Caesar" does not mean render until you get fed up, then join the Tea Party. "It means cooperate, and fund the state. We can be sure that Jesus wanted Caesar, the sate, to use revenue wisely, can't we? "Give unto the poor" does not mean lend unto the poor at a lucrative rate of interest, expecting repayment. Jesus is socialism, not corporate capitalism. Our poor, dying, confused Christian conservatives! Around them the world changes, while they desperately dig in, defending vanishing traditions, like unfetter corporate capitalism, and obsolete, primitive religiosity. Our best attitude is perhaps one of gentle pity, and a good sense of humor.