Conservatism, Simply Explained: Now It All Makes Sense

“Conservatism, Simply Explained: Now it all makes sense” explains what conservatism is, where it came from, and why it is still relevant today – while always staying focused on the philosophy of conservatism.

There are three groups of people that will find this book useful. First, people that don't hold to a particular ideology and whose only exposure to conservatism is through the mainstream media which seemingly depicts conservatives as invaders from outer space. Chapter one will be very helpful as it defines both conservatism and liberalism, and proves that among all the possible definitions that are out there, the definitions given in this book are correct. Section two will also be helpful, as it looks at ten Prime Essentials (principles that are believed by all conservatives but rejected by liberals, for if liberalism accepted any one of these beliefs, it would destroy that ideology). These include:

1st Essential -- All people are created equal and are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights...
2nd Essential -- The one true right any person has is the right to think for themselves.
3rd Essential -- Government is at best a necessary evil, at worst an intolerable burden.
6th Essential -- Democracy requires equality, virtue and tolerance, but the greatest of these is tolerance.
7th Essential -- Utopia Does Not Exist.

Everyone is bound to have an opinion. Let the controversy begin.

Liberals will also benefit from this book, and not only from the first chapter which also defines a few words (rights, power and freedom) that conservatives and liberals define differently. There are, in fact, two chapters that deal specifically with the main issue liberals feel must be dealt with – inequality. Aristotle (and a few other ancient philosophers) identified inequality as the key sticking point that can bring down any society. The feeling is no different in our time. We can't run away from the fact that inequality is a problem. So let's look at the problem and see who has the better solution.

Conservatives, liberals and independents will enjoy section three as it follows the formation of the conservative philosophy over the course of 2000 years. Rather than merely a means for the rich to get richer at the expense of the poor, conservatism has a comprehensive philosophy behind it. Great thinkers, from Aristotle (384-322 BC) to Sir William Blackstone (1723-1780), have pondered what it means to be human and the dangers that concentrated power poses to humanity. Each philosopher influenced the next, slowly evolving the conservative philosophy. We'll also see the role the conservative philosophy played in the formation of our country, and how both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States depends on it. After reading this section, the text of the Declaration of Independence (“We hold these truths to be self-evident...”) will no longer be just words, but ideas communicated over the millenia.

Section four ponders how it is possible to keep a limited government. It looks at the dangers that threaten our government -- a government based on respecting human rights -- and it does this with works written before 1950. None of the dangers are new. You can read Adam Smith, Frederick Bastiat and F.A. Hayek and think they were writing with today's newspapers in front of them. Special attention is given to the progressive philosophy and the issues it has with the Constitution.

The conservative philosophy offers the best roadmap for the enjoyment of life and liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This book explains why. After reading this book, you, too, will say, “Now it all makes sense.”