If You Are Still Voting for Trump, You Are Not a Conservative
By: Kevin Donovan
Tags: Election 2020, Trumpism, Trump, Ideology, Conservatism

If You Are Still Voting for Trump, You Are Not a Conservative

You’re a Trumpist

Ronald Reagan, Barry Goldwater, William F Buckley and Irving Kristol. (Photo from the Hertog Foundation)

Ideological terms have a fluid quality. They typically emerge in the lexicon as a literal definition of a political perspective before serving as tribal labels with entirely new connotations. History also tells us that extremists on both ends of the spectrum tend to behave similarly; think of The Troubles of Northern Ireland in the latter part of the 20th century, in which Protestants and Catholics, two groups originally defined by their belief in Christianity, were reduced to decades of killing each other. This is all to say that the brand of a political ideology has a tendency to wander from its origins in service to its tribe, and nowhere is this divergence more striking than today’s brand of American conservatism.

Regardless of one’s personal beliefs or preferences, the orthodox ideology of conservativism is deserving of respect and inclusion in any dialogue on proper governance. While liberalism originates from a philosophy of collectivism and the importance of the common good, conservatism honors the individual as its starting point, giving high priority to the constitutional rights of individuals to pursue happiness with maximum freedom and minimal government obstruction in an imperfect world.

We typically define liberalism and conservatism within two spheres of influence: the economic and the social role of government in our lives. One of the more appealing features of conservatism is its clarity, in part because it professes a limited role of government. Within the economic sphere, the fiscal conservative believes in minimal taxation and spending, a balanced budget, free trade, prudent regulation and a reduced government role that is primarily limited to national defense and infrastructure. Socially, conservatives tend to be anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ, and pro “religious-freedom” — a position that is often mutually exclusive of the freedoms of LGBTQ people — with a strong emphasis on the personal responsibility and moral character of individuals as an essential core value.

As a liberal, I don’t agree with many of these perspectives, but I value them as a necessary part of a good faith dialogue and a counterweight to far-left leaning liberalism. As I’ve written previously, the very large majority of American citizens across the spectrum want the same things; we all want safe neighborhoods, good schools, access to quality healthcare, decent housing, and a strong economy that provides an equal opportunity for personal and economic growth. We have shared destinations but we believe in different paths to reach them.

Regrettably, the last five years have given rise to an alternative ideology, one that masquerades as conservatism but continues to doggedly pursue its very own bizarre destination best described as “owning the libs.” This is Trumpism, and as our election approaches, the time is long overdue to differentiate this ideology once and for all from conservatism.

Trumpism is not just antithetical to conservatism, it is an insult to it. In the economic sphere, Donald Trump has exploded the debt and deficit, with neither a plan nor a vision to bring it back under control. He has failed at government’s core function of preserving national security by squandering our resources and continually mismanaging our defense against a disease that will very likely kill as many Americans in a single year as those who died in the four years of World War II. He regularly denigrates the men and women who have served our country and sacrificed their lives. He is an economic protectionist, imposing market-distorting tariffs at the expense of both American consumers and producers. His incompetence in response to Covid-19 has led to an economy that has dramatically reduced job opportunities, creating economic instability and uncertainty with no end in sight.

Socially, Trump is not and never was what he claims to be: a pious bible loving believer in Christianity. He has duped many millions of practicing Christians into believing he is the best leader to promote their values without considering the impact his examples have set for our youth, our future generations and the remaining billions of people around the world who still look to America for moral guidance. He reflexively blames others for any failure with which he is connected, demonstrating his inability to live up to the core conservative principle of personal responsibility. He lacks moral character; he lies on a near-hourly basis and he is devoid of the empathy that is so fundamental to all major religious beliefs.

Beyond the social and economic spheres, conservatism places a high value on our Constitution, the Rule of Law, and the balance of power across our three branches of government. In contrast, Trump sees government as a tool for advancing his own self-interest, using it to generate revenue for his businesses, imploring his attorney general to arrest and lock up his political opponents, threatening our free press with bodily harm and imprisonment, explicitly claiming that he is above the law because he is president, signing executive orders to circumvent the legislative branch, and appropriating our military to invade cities and gas peaceful protesters. His actions are the definition of government overreach and abuse of power — two of the most egregious violations of conservative ideology.

Conservatives were once the leading voices in favor of a robust system of immigration — a perspective that Ronald Reagan captured so well in his reference to America as the shining city on the hill. As a nation of immigrants, we rewarded our newcomers with a version of freedom and opportunity found nowhere else in the world. The generations of immigrants that preceded us responded with hard work and a love of their new country that continually revitalized our economy and made us who we are — a nation with the courage in its DNA to welcome the courageous. Today, far too many conservatives have succumbed to the xenophobia espoused by their leader, a capitulation to fears that runs counter to everything we expect of America at its best.

Conservatives in the Trump fold often reference the appointment of conservative federal judges as justification for their allegiance, but even that could be considered an abuse of power if one considers that neither the President, nor the Senate — and as a consequence, the composition of the Supreme Court — are a reflection of the will of the American people. The Republican party has gained a disproportionate measure of power purely as a result of the quirks of the electoral college and the lopsided representation that is characteristic of the Senate — a circumstance that effectively grants someone from Wyoming 70 times more influence than someone from California. It is a structural example of owning the libs and likely the only means of securing so many conservative judges for the simple reason that the conservative perspectives underpinning these appointments would be unable to earn majority support from Americans on their own — an instance of government overreach that, by itself, contradicts conservative ideology.

The endangered conservative respects the rights and representation of all individuals and not just those in their tribe. As with Abraham Lincoln, and with the will of the people as their guidepost, it is reasonable to consider that any remaining conservative governed by principle would have deferred the nomination of the next Supreme Court justice to the winner of the election that is currently underway.

In the world of business, many of America’s greatest success stories are a tribute to conservatism. The creation of thriving enterprises that are strong enough to weather the ups and downs of volatile market sectors year-over-year so often owe their success to the far-sighted and financially sound decision-making of conservative leadership. But as we should all know by now, being in business is not synonymous with being a conservative, and it’s certainly not personified by any business leader who has been forced into bankruptcy six times. Conservatism correlates with business success because it values the stability and predictability that allow long-term forecasting, planning and prudence, all of which is the antithesis of the unpredictable, plan-averse occupant of the White House who claims to be a businessman. As a consequence, Wall Street is beginning to suffer from Trump fatigue, as indicated by the normally conservative financial industry’s emerging belief that Biden is the best prospect for the restoration of a long-lost and much-desired state of predictability.

Whether conservative or liberal, ideologies inform our vision for the future. They serve as the pillars of a political platform, reinforcing our principles and connecting them to the benefits we expect to accrue. For a political party, their platform is their raison d’etre — a pragmatic combination of their vision and goals, of the achievable and the aspirational with the intent to drive action and inspire support. Perhaps this is why there is no better testament to the schism between Trumpism and actual conservatism than the Republican Party’s absurd excuse for a 2020 election platform: “. . . to reassert the Party’s strong support for President Donald Trump and his Administration”. It is as bankrupt of vision as the man it worships.

To state the obvious, owning the libs is not a sustainable governing ideology for Trump or his party, and yet Republican Senators have relinquished conservatism and chosen Trumpism because power is more important than principle. Their submission suggests that they see no other option to retain their office, which begs the question: if they don’t have confidence in themselves and the promise of conservatism, why should anyone else?

The cowardice of Republican leaders is setting the cause of a foundational American ideology back several years — something that true conservatives should never forget. Will a reformed, enlightened Republican Party that lives up to the literal definition of conservatism re-emerge from the ashes of Trumpism? Such a resurrection is in everyone’s interest because leaders of good faith know that good ideas can come from anywhere and there is no need to “own” anything or anyone. But this is a hope that relies on more than ideology; it will take a new wave of courageous men and women who value shared progress over personal power, unity over division, and a well-articulated conservatism that is worthy enough to inspire others.