Jonathan Hall's blog

I've heard elected officials, pundits, and voters from both the Left and the Right proclaim 2008 as the year that conservatism dies. Sure, we've got a few things to be glum about--a Republican President that has driven us into a deficit, a Congress full of Republicans that enabled the President's spending habits and have been laden with scandals, and a Presidential candidate who could be best described as a moderate.

Conservatism has taken quite a few hits as of late. However, it is not dead. It is a set of principles, beliefs, and ideals that will not die as long as there are those who are willing to courageously fight for them, and stick with them through thick and thin (regardless of electability). There are true conservatives at nearly every level of government--even if they aren't running for President. 

It is entirely possible that Liberalism will win the battle in 2008. However, it is even more possible that Liberalism will not win the war. It appears that even Europe, an area that ushered in Liberalism with open arms, may be looking to turn back to the Right. Doug Saunders, a writer for the Canadian Globe & Mail, says the following:

It is a darkly ironic reversal of fortunes: At the start of the decade, a conservative such as George W. Bush was almost alone in the world; today, the world is being overtaken by conservative leaders — though not necessarily, as we shall see, by their ideas. Ten years ago, Newsweek magazine proclaimed that, "with the exception of Spain, every major country in Western Europe is now run by a left-of-centre party," adding tellingly that "conservative political parties keep winning policy debates and then losing elections." Today, almost the opposite is true. Across Europe, the left is collapsing.

Interesting. Apparently, once the policies of quasi-socialistic Liberalism are installed, they seem to be eventually rejected. Conservatism will eventually prevail because it empowers the individual, as opposed to the government. The government will never be able to know individuals better than they know themselves; personal freedom, empowered by conservatism, will win the day.

It goes without saying that many Conservatives are, to say the least, disappointed that John McCain is the Republican Party's presidential nominee. This disappointment has caused many voters across the nation to simply "check out" of politics. They feel that since their views are not represented in the presidential election, that they have no reason or responsibility to be involved in the 2008 election. Many of them have threatened that they will not even vote.

As a Conservative, I feel their pain. I often wish that the GOP had nominated a candidate that agreed with me on more issues. It's hard to get energized about McCain; I definitely understand where they're coming from. I'm not encouraging Conservatives to go out and work for McCain. (That issue will be saved for a later discussion). However, I will say this:

Refusing to vote or be active in politics simply because of one candidate is irresponsible.

If you are disillusioned with McCain and care as deeply about the Conservative movement as you claim you do, do not check out of politics. There are many, many local elections in your area that you should work for: Congressman, Senator, Governor, State House, State Senate, Mayor, Sheriff, the list goes on. Find a local candidate that you respect and agree with and work for him. The Conservative movement has not been built upon the backs of national icons, even though they have played a substantial role; Conservatism exists today because of small groups of people discussing ideas and fighting for what they believe in. Grassroots has always been a key component of Conservatism...knocking doors, making phone calls, and connecting one-on-one with voters is the backbone of our movement.

Do not punish your neighbor who's running for the State House by refusing to vote because of McCain's moderate record. Your passion is a valuable asset; it is key to sustaining Conservatism. Find tomorrow's leaders by getting involved in local politics today. If we work hard to promote Conservatives at every level, we may never be faced with the proposition of having to vote for someone who isn't as Conservative as we'd like.