Conscience of a Conservative Review
In 1964, Barry Goldwater produced a superb treatise that calls for smaller, limited government, compliance with the U.S. Constitution, lower taxes and lower spending. He identified the first principle of totalitarianism: that the state is competent to do all things and is limited in what it actually does only by the will of those who control the state. In contrast Conservatives believe that we are morally and legally obliged to comply with the U.S.
Constitution ensuring the concept of limited government.
Goldwater then identifies that neither of the two main parties, Republican or Democrat, maintain a meaningful commitment to States Rights and the 10th Amendment, which is a prohibitory rule of law, recognizing State jurisdiction in certain areas: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution nor prohibited by it to the States are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
Goldwater very succinctly explains the "Conservative position" related to numerous issues to include:
CIVIL RIGHTS - Unless a right is incorporated in the law it is not a civil right and is not enforceable by the instruments of the civil law.
FREEDOM FOR THE FARMER - No power over agriculture was given to any branch of national government.
FREEDOM FOR LABOR - Conservatives favor State right to work laws which forbid contracts that make union membership a condition of employment.
TAXES AND SPENDING - One of the foremost precepts of natural law is man's right to the possession and use of his property and earnings. Property and freedom are inseparable.
THE WELFARE STATE - Marxist objective is to socialize the means of production (and) intend to subordinate the individual to the state, buying votes with promises of "free" federal benefits: housing, school aid, medical, hospitalization and retirement.
EDUCATION - Federal intervention in education is unconstitutional.
Whether you are Republican or Democrat, this book is concise primer on American politics that is as relevant today as it was in 1964.
I read an early edition while attending USMA at West Point and Goldwater transformed my childish views on politics to an adult understanding of key issues.
Tea Party Revival: The Conscience of a Conservative Reborn: The Tea Party Revolt Against Unconstrained Spending and Growth of the Federal Government
Conscience of a Conservative Overview
The Conscience of a Conservative is a book published under the name of Arizona Senator and 1964 Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater in 1960. The book reignited the American conservative movement and made Barry Goldwater a political star. The book has influenced countless conservatives in the United States, helping to lay the foundation for the Reagan Revolution in 1980.
The book was ghostwritten by L. Brent Bozell Jr., brother-in-law of William F. Buckley.[1] Bozell and Buckley had been members of Yale's debate team. They had co-authored the controversial book, McCarthy and His Enemies, in 1955. Bozell had been Goldwater's speechwriter in the 1950s, and was familiar with many of his ideals. The first edition, 1960, is 123 pages in length and was published in the United States. The book covers such topics as education, labor unions and policies, civil rights, agricultural policy and farm subsidies, social welfare programs, and income taxation. The book is considered to be a significant statement of politically and economically American conservative ideas which were to gain influence during the following decades.
The book continues to inspire contemporary political commentary. John Dean's 2006 book Conservatives without Conscience, for example, draws both its title and some of its principles from Goldwater's book. Senator Zell Miller's 2003 critique of the Democratic Party, A National Party No More: The Conscience of a Conservative Democrat also draws the inspiration for its title from Goldwater's work. In 2007, Paul Krugman entitled his own book The Conscience of a Liberal, saying in the introduction that he wanted his work to stand as a counterpoint to Goldwater's. Former conservative journalist David Brock also alluded to Goldwater's book in his memoir Blinded by the Right: The Conscience of an Ex-Conservative. from wikipedia
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Customer Reviews
Reads like today's newspaper ... - Piperboy Wannabe - Baltimore, MD, United States, North America, Earth
What a great book ... can't believe I hadn't read this years ago. It's 50 years old but, except for some of the terminology that he uses (50's era words seem somewhat dated today), it reads like today's newspaper. It is a very brief, focused, common-sense book. You can read it in an afternoon, but think about it for a long time.
A Lesson in Brevity- 82 page book! - K. Burns - Atlanta, GA
This book would probably be better titled today, "The Conscience of a Libertarian." At least from my experience, the "Conservative" he speaks of is in little resemblance to those claiming Conservatism today. His ideas, many of which I adhere to, get the stink-eye when discussing in every day life.
It is nearly impossible to get anyone to admit that America is (at least Constitutionally) a Republic. The Federal Gov't isn't sovereign. Federal aid does not come "free." A strong nation depends on States' Rights. Civil Rights are not Human Rights, but rights that have already been incorporated into law. Our nation is governed by the Rule of Law not men. Corporations like Unions should not participate in politics. Corporations and Unions should not have monopolistic control. Federal programs are not authorized by the Constitution. The Federal Government is not authorized to set up a Welfare State. Federal aid in education- or any program- leads to Federal control.
The Goldwater vision of America is Constitutionally honorable at heart, but impossible in practice. I say impossible because I believe that America has already crossed the Rubicon. Goldwater's chapter on The Welfare State and Notes on Education show the brilliance of his foresight.
His last chapter on foreign policy, namely Russia, has my jury still out. Goldwater argues that we should take a more offensive approach towards International Communism. Today, we have the vantage point of the Vietnam experience as opposed to Goldwater's pre-Vietnam horizon. I don't know what the answer is in regards to Communism, but I do agree with Goldwater that we should not welcome it onto our shores as if it is just another political theory. We should not give foreign aid to those who claim Communist neutrality. And that a weak American economy will be ripe for Communist subversion.
I don't believe that the Cold War has necessarily ended. As he so predicts on the last page that Communists will continue to lay down one challenge after another; limiting the choices to all-out war or limited retreat. I think we may witness this move by Russia in the very near future regarding Iran's nuclear power. I hope that American representatives will exercise strong leadership.
READ THIS - Justin Everett -
This is a must read for any and all Americans - or anyone else for that matter. Your political stripe doesn't matter, you will learn something. Plus this book is a pretty quick read only 116 pages or so...
American Conservatism - M. Blonski - State College, PA
One of the best books I have ever read portraying the deep rooted values of our country and the need to protect the American way of life. Mr. Goldwater did an excellent job laying out the basis for his viewpoints. You can get a clear understanding of how the conservative movement would pick up momentum and set the stage for Ronald Reagan's presidency and success. Clearly, the values are timeless.
The book is an easy read but deep enough to be thought provoking in almost every chapter. It was amazing to see 90% of the Author's examples are still issues we are wrestling with today.
Great addition for your personal library.
On a side note; I gained a better opinion of Pat Buchannon with his opening remarks in this reprint.
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