Conservatism From The Brit Perspective

A writer on the UK conservative blog CentreRight has posted the beginnings of his list of precepts that define conservatism. It's interesting to see how much I find to agree with. Here's the list:

1. No insignificant person has ever been born.
2. Economic liberalism needs social conservatism (and, 5pm addition, Iain Murray emails me to say and vice versa)
3. The presumption should always be in favour of life
4. Government should be as small as possible but as large as necessary
5. Multilateral organisations transfer power from people to politicians
6. Private choices have public consequences/ Policymakers have an interest in 'private choices', at least so long as they have consequences for taxpayers
7. Conservatism is a creative coalition between security, economic and cultural conservatives
8. A welfare state that feeds-and-forgets isn't compassionate
9. Politics is less important than ideas, culture and religion
10. Free enterprise and big business are not the same
11. Taxation has dynamic effects
12. Pre-emption is the best response to many of today's security threats
13. There is such thing as society, it's just not the state
14. Man is a fallen creature
15. Decision-making powers should be as close as possible to those affected by those decisions
16. Private ownership is nearly always preferable to common ownership
17. A strong society is built upon the vigorous virtues of courage, ambition, creativity, self-sufficiency and enterprise.
18. Love of country is fundamental to all conservatism.
19. Social liberalism can be destructive of social justice.
20. Conservative reform is usually preferable to radical revolution. Conservatism must deal with its own enemies within.

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I especially like his point that free enterprise does not necessarily equal big business, in light of our government's inability to distinguish between the two. Bush's attempts to save big business are in danger of seriously hurting free enterprise. I fear that will only get worse under the Obama administration.

Best of the Best Of

Check out all the totally useless, yet highly amusing, "Best Of 2008" lists.

I don't think I made one of them. I'll try harder in '09.

Our State Is A Mess

If you're sick of all that holiday cheer and were looking for something to complain about, Chad Adams at the John Locke Foundation's Squall Lines blog has a list for you.

He hits some, but surely not all, of the bases, including the North Carolina probation system, mental health system and transportation department. He even points out the sad fact that governments can't even run liquor sales at a profit. Good Lord.

Hamas Needed Bombing

Just in case you were inclined to feel a bit sorry for Hamas having to deal with a modern air force dropping bombs and missiles on it for days on end, Little Green Footballs brings us this from the Jerusalem Post.

It seems that just before Christmas, the Hamas legislature passed a new criminal code for the Palestinian Authority that legalizes crucifixion. How nice.

And these are the people that the Jimmy Carter "peace now" crowd wants Israel to negotiate with. There are some people, and Hamas falls into this category, that to dignify them with negotiations would be a step backwards for civilization.

Year In Review

I really miss Dave Barry. Here's his 2008 Year In Review. Funny stuff.

Count Your Blessings

As we prepare for another Christmas in the most free nation on Earth, let's remember those who have to deal with more than a few ACLU lawyers to celebrate their faith.

Joseph Morrison Skelly writes at National Review Online about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Lutheran minister who actively fought against the Nazis from inside Germany. He is an example of the many men and women who risk their lives and freedom to celebrate Christmas.

Skelly reminds us of a few of these:

At Christmas time in 1942 Bonhoeffer had circulated a long letter to his closest colleagues assessing a decade of resistance, later reprinted as the essay “After Ten Years.” In it he asks the question, “Who stands firm?” Today, there are Christians who quietly stand up to tyranny. On the morning of December 25, they will acknowledge the day’s significance. In Beijing, a husband will wish his wife “Merry Christmas.” In Havana, a family will exchange gifts. A minister in Riyadh will read the Gospel. A priest in Pyongyang will silently say Mass. These men and women, like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, resist without fear. They grasp a fundamental fact about the intersection of freedom and faith, as true for Christians as it is for men and women of all religions. They understand that to be human is to know God; to be human and free is to know God fully.

God Bless them.

I Blame Global Warming

If a blizzard hasn't knocked out your electricity, you can read this fun list of The Top Ten Things Global Warming Is Responsible For.

Christmas In Iraq

The world's only Arab democracy allows the celebration of Christmas. The Interior Ministry even sponsored an event in Baghdad featuring Santa, a band, a decorated tree and a hot air balloon with Jesus Christ on its side.

That would get a town or city sued in this country. I probably shouldn't even say that, if any US funds we somehow involved, the ACLU is probably already at the courthouse.

On a happier note, does this mean we won?

Southeastern NC To Be Awash With Roadkill

North Carolina DOT announced it will layoff most temporary workers by early next month, in a cost-cutting attempt. One of the jobs performed by these unlucky souls is roadkill clean-up. Being laid-off is bad, but being laid-off from a job picking dead possums off the side of the road...maybe not so much.

Surely, the state wouldn't create make-work jobs for officials' friends and relatives, so I'm afraid this move will have dire consequences. How we we keep from being drowned in the carcasses of dead critters? My wife suggested that perhaps the vultures would step up, but can we count on Mother Nature to perform a job that is so obviously the proper role of Government?

Only time will tell, but I for one, am buying hip waders.

A Very Toothy Christmas

Researchers in Scotland will try to answer one of the world's most burning questions: Do sharks like Christmas music?

After it was learned that fish could recognize a melody, this was the obvious next step. I'm not sure I'd want to be around to see a great white's reaction to Wham's Next Christmas, but good luck to the Scots!