Fundamental tenets of conservatism are limited government and a democracy representative of the public. In attempts to place legislative restrictions on issues such as marriage rights and women’s health, conservatives have vilified and alienated vast portions of the populous. The GOP will only garner a sufficient voter base for elections when it applies its economic minimalist principles to the social issues realm. Conservatives should invest less time in attempting to legislate lifestyle choices of Americans, and more time crafting the American political structure to preserve the fundamental American principles of the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. Enter Novus Conservatism.
Novus Conservatism maintains the economic principles of pro-business, limited regulation and capitalism-knows-best, while adapting its social governing ideology to one that does not assume its religion, beliefs or general way of life are worthy of imposition on the general populous. This approach would most importantly end the conservative politicization of social issues.
Not only would this take lifestyle choices that are highly individual off the docket of a gridlocked Congress, but, coupled with streamlining federal funding, it would also relieve taxpayers from funding actions they may not support. This shift in responsibility for fringe legislation would also serve to reduce America’s increasing nanny state policies. Conservatism would deviate from its stagnated and frustrated image to one, dare I say it … socially progressive?
What this new breed of political animal would look like in action is one focused on education, the economy, environmental standards, international relations, employment and so on. Sub-issues that arise within these broader governing categories that are highly divisive should be decided upon within the states. The logic establishes that each state’s composition is vastly different, and thus democracy on the “little big things,” can only be efficient when piecemealed to be representative of those it is designed to serve. This approach, while presenting possible friction areas between federal and state governments, has recently been shown successful with marijuana legalization.
For those with particularly conservative (traditional, not Novus) ideologies to oppose certain lifestyles is an opinion they are entitled to, but to further their lack of support into prohibition of certain behaviors in their party platform as a governing strategy, they ultimately vilify those they disagree with, and instead of simply not supporting them they condemn them. The root of Novus Conservatism is then in refraining from politicizing social issues, holding that conserving their impulse to legislate on lifestyle choices is often the best kind of conservatism.
Whitney Greer is sophomore English major from Medford, Ore.
