The Conscience of a Conservative

Résumé du livre

Barry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States senator from Arizona, which he represented from 1953-1965 and again from 1969-1987. Goldwater was the Republican party’s nominee for president in 1964. Although he lost that election, he was credited with sparking the resurgence of conservatism in the United States. Goldwater died in 1998.

Modern government has shifted the focus of American voters, particularly regarding taxes, from liberty to public finance, neglecting the principle that individuals have a natural right to their property, including income. High taxes, like those faced by John, a working father, erode freedom by redistributing earnings. A fair tax system should collect only what is necessary for essential government functions, rejecting progressive taxation as a tool of wealth redistribution. The Founding Fathers addressed the corrupting nature of power through a Constitution that limits government authority, yet both political parties have expanded federal influence, undermining states' rights and individual freedoms. Federal overreach, through programs like grant-in-aid, compromises state autonomy and violates the Tenth Amendment, disrupting local governance and self-determination. While Marxism faded post-WWII, welfarism emerged as a new collectivist threat, fostering dependency and eroding personal responsibility. Conservatives argue for a balance of spiritual and economic freedoms, emphasizing limited government and individual autonomy. Misconceptions about states' rights and civil rights persist, but the Constitution allows these to coexist, with federal intervention limited to protecting rights explicitly outlined by law. Similarly, trade unions, when voluntary, promote fairness, but mandatory membership undermines freedom, as seen in debates over right-to-work laws.

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