Excellent

In recent years the most popular way to give ‘Conservative’ a definition has been to claim it is essentially about – Liberty. Various figures from our history, recent or further removed, are put forward to try to establish or defend the notion that liberty or freedom is the essential nature of ‘Conservatives’. I think these claims about ‘Conservative’ being concerned with liberty are – wrong. In American history the War of Independence is generally understood as a fight for liberty or freedom from British control. Edmund Burke’s writing in response to the great mess called the French Revolution and the abuse of liberty there has been a great influence on today’s Conservative thinkers. Also, in our own time ‘Conservatives’ are determined to oppose socialist totalitarianism forcefully and they use this notion of liberty as the main reason for ‘Conservatives’ to counter totalitarian regimes and apparats everywhere. These notions of ‘Conservative’ being about liberty come in response and reactions to events in history. They do not come from any effort to consider the ‘Conservative’ character in an individual, the character that is essentially what most people are.

Let’s take a moment to go back in England (or any other country) in very early centuries when people lived in farming groups of 20, 30, 40 people with small rough cottages and strips of land to till with grazing areas nearby. For them liberty was not an issue of importance – they had all the liberty they could want. They could stay with a hamlet group or, pack up and go elsewhere at any time. There would be a minimal ‘organizing agreement’ amongst the locals. But they understood plainly that the capacity that each person has to deal with the world, provide sustenance and succeed at life made it unnecessary for any controlling social directive to be imposed on them. Now there were undoubtedly some who would be called ‘conservative’ and others less ‘conservative’, and perhaps some who might be called ‘libertine’.

‘Conservative’ character and attitudes are a way of being that is a fundamental fact for people, some much more than others. The question of liberty in the interactions of people will necessarily arise as communities get larger and more complex with people who have capacities and agency to do good or bad, right or wrong. But those people in old England, living fairly remote lives would have experienced many ‘Conservative’ moments such as a man and woman deciding to marry, parents having a child to care for, taking care of a single family home, planning seasonal activities, getting along with friends and neighbors. There are many common everyday goings-on that involve ‘Conservative’ character and attitudes that are not about – liberty. Free rein, unfettered action is certainly of interest to ‘Conservatives’ but that is not the basic, essential core of what ‘Conservative’ is. To GET AT what ‘conservative’ is we have to look carefully into the character of people to examine the source, the spring, of ‘Conservative’ understanding and motivation.

When a man and woman, in our village, plan to marry ‘tie the knot’ that is a ‘Conservative’ moment. They are facing the responsibility of marriage, planning for good to happen and being a part of their community. They are rounding up determination to plan for the future that will surely include some difficulties and make a go of it. Marriage is a ‘Conservative’ event – it is a declaration of Goodness. A woman expecting a child is the most ‘Conservative’ person in the village – ‘Conservative’ because the construction of a new human being is GOODNESS in action. ‘Conservatives’ understand this implicitly. When a young mother keeps a constant eye on her child that is ‘Conservative’ behavior. Every mother wants everything to be right with her child as the child grows up. When grandparents take care of a child or consider a child’s progress that is a ‘Conservative’ moment. They are concerned that the child is having good experiences. When a father keeps an eye on a son’s development that is ‘Conservative’ behavior. He is careful to see that the youth is moving in the right direction of increasing knowledge and responsibility. When friends ask if our representative family needs any kind of help that is ‘Conservative’ goodness in action – people have lots of excess capacity and they can afford to help Good happen in their community. People are not only concerned about Good in themselves but also how they can extend Goodness to the world around them. When farmers in the village practice animal husbandry to improve their stock that is ‘Conservative’. When they manage the land they till that is ‘Conservative’. We can make a long list of the everyday events of life and note that ‘Conservative’ behavior is – normal, regular, REAL, for all people with most people admitting they are essentially ‘Conservative’. (I say most because not all people in the village have the same character make up. We know that some people have character traits that we see as wrong – dishonesty, connivance, irresponsibility, brutality, etc.). Take some time to make a list of traits that ‘conservatives’ exhibit – I have reserved, thoughtful, considerate, careful, moderate, patient, deliberate, concerned, optimistic, forthright, loyal, honorable, respectful. For each of these I recall people or events where the trait has been brought out clearly to me and while pausing to consider each carefully I notice that behind each trait there is an origin, and that origin is natural, fundamental GOODNESS. I also notice that the recollections I have betray a faint appreciation in each moment of that ‘Conservative’ character and the Goodness that is the source, and also an undisciplined awareness of the constant presence of Goodness in all that we do. We handicap ourselves when we do not practice disciplined understanding of ‘conservative’ traits.

Now we all have many traits combined in different ways but ‘Conservatives’ understand that Goodness is self-advancing – Good for Goodness sake – and that it includes a requirement to act affirmatively. While some people are attuned to material, transient interests only, ‘Conservatives’ are attuned to Personal Goodness that is not materialist. While some people enjoy the simple knowledge that material objects are at times pleasing, ‘Conservatives’ appreciate that Goodness involves the very fact that it is constant. This is what makes ‘conservatives’ Conservative. ‘Conservatives’ are unimpressed by the sham of claiming that since we all have weaknesses then we should be celebrating weakness. For ‘Conservatives’ making a decision FOR goodness is easily grasped as a requirement. We cannot take the deceitful position that since no one is perfect then we can let Goodness slide and keep excuses for inferior behavior handy for all occasions to dismiss those who insist that Goodness requires Good effort and commitment. ‘Conservatives’ are Good people whose first concern is – GOODNESS. When you ask ‘Conservatives’ to explain themselves, why they are the way they are – they have difficulty articulating what their personal motivation is. This is a fundamental weakness that must be corrected before ‘Conservatives’ can step forward into public affairs. How many ‘Conservatives’ have ever taken the time to write out their explanation of what it is to be ‘Conservative’? Not too many I’ll bet, and that is the problem.

I am trying to build a case for a STATEMENT that being ‘Conservative’ is about having personal knowledge that Goodness is the source, the very truth, of our character and motivation. Normally, busy people do not reflect on this, they just ‘know’ it and take it as a given. But not being careful about understanding conservatism is an unconservative thing to do. The problems ‘Conservatives’ have with politics and society start with the lack of attention to their personal understanding of ‘Conservative’ character. Being apolitical and at ease with themselves leaves ‘Conservatives’ open to abuse by people who do not have good intentions – because they are not motivated by goodness. If ‘Conservative’ people are the majority that so many opinion polls show they are they should be stomping all over socialists and have a commanding position to steer our society and culture to a path of steady improvement. It is obvious that something is very wrong with America when issue after issue shows a majority favoring ‘Conservative’ positions while legislatures and courts have a field day shackling us with the opposite of what we know is right. We have gotten to this point over many years because #1- WE DO NOT SERIOUSLY ORGANIZE OUR THOUGHTS ABOUT WHO WE ARE AS ‘CONSERVATIVES’.

Let’s go forward in time to our town in England before 1066.The town is somewhat larger than the old village, still remotely located with more people, more activity, more possibilities for good and bad, with some history behind them. Much of life is the same as it was before – family, friends, neighbors, life’s ups and downs, people being people – with ‘Conservative’ character being present for most people just as before. A more complicated community brings a need to organize lawful behavior. Concerns about property, trade, and interaction with people in a larger area must be dealt with. When people set boundary lines for properties that is ‘Conservative’ – not liberal – behavior. They are putting a stop to trouble before it happens. They know the difference between living in a loosely regulated situation and a larger town with people who have varying plans of action. They understand that putting some restrictions on activities is Good – rather than chain people down it makes interaction easier among the residents. There is a tension between the natural urge for unrestricted range of action – liberty – and the desire to interact with other people which requires restraint. The ‘Conservative’ answer to this problem is – look to the Good in people – establish the few rules needed to guide people and then let people, WHO CAN TRUST THEMSELVES TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, get with the program and make the rules work. These people have some interaction with larger spheres of government and develop ways to manage the visitors from ‘down south’. The establishment of laws for wider areas of the kingdom are developed with the implicit reliance on the basic ‘Conservative’ knowledge that people and the Monarchy have. The old ‘Conservative’ character that shows in family and neighbor activities is always present even if it is not overtly acknowledged. People ‘know’ how to do things right, but since they don’t take the time to do the introspection necessary to build effective understanding they may not be able to articulate their understanding – a bad habit that stymies ‘Conservatives’. Common law is just the organization of rules that have as their ORIGIN the GOODNESS that is found in people.

We could go on to England after the Great Charter, in Shakespeare’s time, after Cromwell and the Revolution, and on to the 19th and 20th centuries. We could look at America as the pilgrims and puritans in New England and the settlers in the Old Dominion established colonies. We could look at America before the War of Independence all the way to the present. In all societies, in all times a fundamental truth is in operation – the majority of people have at their core ‘Conservative’ character. Americans whose heritage goes back to other countries around the world can do the same examination of the development of ‘Conservative’ character and attitudes that had nothing to do with Edmund Burke, the French Revolution or some notion of liberty. People in other countries have their own histories with traditions of ‘Conservative’ values that play a central role in the life of the people. ‘Conservative’ is a way of being for most people all over the world. As nations have developed through the past several centuries, they have made alterations and additions to their governing systems to deal with increasing complexity and the advances brought by science and industry but the fundamental nature of ‘Conservative’ character is always active personally, at home and in community.

From individuals to families, to communities and to nations the truth of the matter is that certain people are motivated by Goodness, they are agents of Goodness, seek Goodness, appreciate Goodness, and learn to participate in Goodness in the world around them, and understand that it is – JUST THAT – we are agents of Goodness in a system of Goodness, the realization of which gives us our ‘Conservative’ guide to action. We are not tourists who watch a spectacle of right and wrong, good and bad around us and remain uninvolved. ‘Conservative’ living is not reaction to events and issues that pass by but the advancement and promotion of – Goodness – Well whadya know. We are not concerned about this school, or that power plant, some government program or other international problem. We are concerned that Goodness happens, the details on the ground are incidental – important, but important because they are part of the world of Good, the creation of Good in which we participate, and manage. In our time, in our country our first priority should always be to take the time to become skillful at understanding our personal nature of Goodness. People may suppose that gaining an understanding of our personal nature of Goodness is some vague mental exercise that does not involve taking action but that is a mistake. It is a profound truth that is at the origin of all that we are. It is the source of our strength and determination, the guide to our plans for the future.

My purpose for starting Excellent America is to build a mechanism, political party, for people to get organized community wide, state wide and nation wide to discuss issues and action using the internet as a main meeting place. This is the 21st century and it is a disgrace that the tired old Republican party is still clunking along trying to manipulate politics and government to play with taxpayers’ money. There are a lot of good people doing a lot of good things in this country – wouldn’t it be nice if we had a political operation that could steer all that good effort to a future of Great Goodness. It will not happen while Republicrats use ‘Conservatives’ as voting stooges to get themselves parked in legislatures where they can do what socialists tell them to do.

I have been putting ‘Conservative’ in quotes in this essay because I think the word does not accurately catch what is needed to define the people who are given that label. Some people say ‘Conservative’ indicates old fashioned attitudes. That is wrong. People who are Conservative like things that are good and if something is old but worthwhile we will keep it because it is the Good that counts, not the old. Water is old fashioned – but it seems to be as popular as ever. There are lots of things that have been around a long time that are still in use because something is right about them – spoons and shoes and shovels, for instance. Some good things go out of style, hats for instance, which used to have a real useful role for people who had to walk everywhere. ‘Conservatives’ are not bound to old things, they appreciate good things old or new. Some people say ‘Conservative’ means resistance to new things. That is ridiculous. ‘Conservatives’ are interested in whatever produces good results – automobiles to replace horses, refrigeration to replace iceboxes, improvements in medicine and telephones etc. We could make a long list of new things that are immediately taken up by ‘Conservatives’ for the good they do. It is all about Goodness as the fundamental character for people who are ‘Conservative’.

Some people say that ‘conservative’ means authoritarian control of society but this is untrue. The history of the 20th century has provided an ocean of evidence that controlling people is what socialists (totalitarians) are all about, and trusting people with the opportunity to establish freely elected representative government is what ‘Conservatives’ are all about. As we have seen there is a tension between the urge for unfettered action and the need for organized, lawful interactions among people. The Good of respectful behavior and the Good of independent action can be practiced at the same time. The discipline of invention and the wide open possibilities of creativity are examples of behavior that aim to make Good happen. Directing ourselves to what is Best does not stifle independent or creative behavior but it is certainly opposed to forced control of peoples’ activities. ‘Conservatives’ set boundaries for acceptable behavior, but between the lines there is plenty of room for a range of initiative and accomplishment. Some people say that ‘Conservative’ means taking a live and let live approach to the norms of behavior, not enforcing requirements for proper conduct when some behavior does not ‘harm’ others. This is wrong. When Conservatives take Goodness as their essential character it does not mean they are okay with less Good- they are always intending more Good. As technological improvements increase our capacities we find ourselves released from hardships, and enjoying more possibilities, but we do not ‘get beyond’ requirements for Good behavior. More free range does not put us in a position to discount our basic character of Goodness or make lame excuses for inferior behavior. It gives us the opportunity to plan and work for further improvements to society. It is no good for ‘Conservatives’ to try to appear cool by maintaining a half-baked attitude toward promoting Good behavior in society. ‘Conservatives’ properly advance basic precepts when insisting that Goodness requires Good actions and puts destructive behavior out of bounds. Conservatives are people who can TRUST themselves to make the decisions on what is Good and what is not good. They understand that life is not an anything goes, whatever floats your boat circus. If it is possible to live a life well done – then go right ahead – who is stopping you?

Some people say that ‘Conservative’ refers to an attitude of perfection in people but that is completely wrong. The people who wrote the Constitution started with a preamble and in the first line is the word PERFECT. They didn’t say in order to form a liberated union, or a free union, or an equal union. People misrepresent the word perfect to mean – perfectionist, one who is severe or obsessed with flawless behavior. But I take the word to mean exactly what ‘Conservatives’ are all about – reducing defects, understanding and practicing Good behavior and personal excellence and looking ahead to a better future. That common, normal behavior is what the overwhelming majority of people exhibit the overwhelming majority of the time – even while socialists endlessly promote ‘liberal’ or inferior attitudes. Their daily (Conservative) actions give the lie to their propaganda – if only we had a political party that could shove the plain truth of conservatism in their faces.

Starting with Goodness as fundamental we ‘Conservatives’ intend to make Good happen in our lives and the world around us by a steady application of Principles to the possibilities the world presents to us and make life an adventure of increasing Goodness.

What word can be used as an ‘identifier’ for the goodness crowd? Perhaps rightists , or bestists, or correctists, or maybe perfectists which is awkward, but getting close to the point. Right now I am trying to decide whether the best word we might use to identify ourselves is EXCELLENTS or CHAMPIONS.