Letters by a modern St. Ferdinand III about cults

Conservatism in its pure sense mandates the limitation of coercion and arbitrary power by rulers and the elite through a limitation on government size, its spending, a constitutionally protected division of powers and a transparent legal system that enforces contracts and protects private property rights. Further, Conservatism operates on the assumption about the ‘tragic nature’ of mankind’s character. Conservatives do not believe that an autocratic elite can refashion men into angels. Life is a series of trade-offs between imperfect options. The best that one can hope for is to enshrine freedom, free trade, wealth creation and support of those in need. Such a policy is anathema to those who wish to control; wield absolute power and create society in their own image. Conservatism promotes capitalism, wealth creation and retention, legal processes, stable constitutions, trade, peaceful exchange and the emancipation of men from bondage. Conservatism is the political expression of all that is noble and moral within capitalism and leads to some form of democratic pluralism and representative government.

The morality and purpose of the Conservative-capitalist program is obvious. One should not forget that the modern form of Western capitalism and Conservative political processes ended child labour [which occurred in every society pre-1750]; slavery [only abolished in the West and still in existence in the Arab and non-Western world]; female subservience to the male; and has forced a realignment in how people view society and ‘classes’. Since both Conservatism and capitalism exist on a contractual basis there is no benefit in viewing for instance a class or race as the determining factor in human affairs. Quality, price, ease of use or supply, functionality or some other factors militate against a race-centric or tribal view of life. Anyone of any race can succeed or fail based on merit. A true ‘raceless’ meritocracy is the logical outcome of the Conservative-capitalist state.

Indeed the Conservative ideals of the Western Enlightenment led to a thorough recasting of all aspects of social assistance including welfare; health; education and infrastructure, not to mention the destruction of age old feudal structures of class, elite privilege, and oppression. There has never been another system which has benefited the human race more than the political expression of Conservatism and its economic component of capitalism. Importantly such benefits thrive only in environments that are stable, lawful and respectful of rights and freedoms. These prerequisites mandate the creation of a civilised and cultured society. It also leads to political reformation.

In the Conservative view as society develops and people acquire wealth they demand and obtain an equal voice in political affairs. Politics thus becomes not just the playground of the elite, but a means for those with private property and personal wealth to guarantee their freedoms. In this regard Conservatism and capitalism become the great levellers and both lead logically to some sort of democratic pluralism protected by laws and strong constitutions. Without the impetus of capitalist or Conservative ideals and institutions true transparent democracy is impossible.

Not only is the Conservative-capital construct the basis for the modern and advanced nation state it is also a philosophy of security and military preparedness interested in protecting trade, investment and ultimately peace. Conservatism and capitalism are engrossed in utility, profit, progress and security. Outside of guarding borders, national survival or pre-emption to ward off attack, the Conservative has little interest in war for war’s sake. If you cast an eye back over the history of the past 200 years you will see that all major wars were started by despots, socialist states, or fascist creations attacking those more free or vulnerable. These wars were campaigns of plunder, hate, egoistic designs of control, and destruction for the sake of destruction.

Yet what do we have in the West? Almost the opposite of what an intelligent analysis would dictate. We have a soupy mixture of hyperactive socialism and sensitive feminism with a dash of eco-fascism thrown in with the odd leftover of appeasement informs our governance. Tax cuts? Surely you jest you rich corrupted land owner. Spending cuts? Surely you are mistaken you loathsome anti-social snake. Reduce government size? Surely not you capitalist criminal and fascist baby eating moron. Conservative ideals? Ah you must be a racist white man who reads too many history and economic books. Tsk Tsk.