I generally have a pessimistic opinion of human nature. I strongly agree with most conservatives’ views that we should expect less of people, because they have been corrupted and flawed by sin. I am definitely unwilling to provide welfare programs such as aid to unemployment, or aid to dependent children because I don’t think that these programs use it properly. Human Nature will sit back and use the benefits allotted to them without being forced to learn trades and earn their own ‘keep’. Thus the patterns that allow people to line up for handouts are established. There’s also no way to be sure that these dependent children and unemployed are really benefiting from my contributions, when the people running the programs could be using it to benefit themselves. In fact, I think that this will cause more problems in the long run.
When dealing with Tradition and Reform, I again, strongly agree with the Conservatives beliefs that we should preserve and conserve the old ways and traditions of the past. I certainly don’t feel that change is necessarily a good thing, because of the chaos and detrimental results that may come of it. Quick change isn’t essentially a good thing because it can lead to quick failure and instability, which would be much more harmful than if we didn’t force change at all. Most of the optimistic accomplishments of the United States were primarily the result of slow growth and gradual change. For example, the government in the United States has generally prospered because of its lack of change over the years. The government, for the most part, has been the same since the United States was founded, which has definitely proved to be successful.
In Authority and Individual Freedom, I believe that the people should not have a great amount of liberty in their actions, but that they should be controlled instead. I stoutly feel that people will not use liberties given to them wisely. I think people should be controlled and guided by the people in society that are better suited to govern and who are more educated. If an un-educated man were to make critical decisions in our country, I think the results would be negative to the fullest extent. If these un-educated people, whom we cannot trust, are forced to make critical decisions involving the government and the well being of others, then our country would most likely fall apart, and there would be no purpose of having government officials.
My thoughts and views in regards to Human Nature, Tradition, Reform, Authority and the Individual are definitely in favor of Conservatism. With my strong beliefs towards change, my pessimistic views towards human nature, my ideas about tradition, and my thoughts about individual freedom, there’s no doubt about it that I am a conservative.