March 30, 2011
I know that I'm not a stereotypical Conservative. When people think "Conservative," they think of an old person, who is often religious, who hates change and doesn't have a sense of the world around them. I don't like stereotypes. I don't see a Liberal as an egghead academic,who looks down upon people from their ivory tower and thinks that they, as an "intellectual superior," are better than me.
I'm a strange breed of Conservative. You could call me a libertarian-liberal-Conservative. I don't like a lot of government - I think it is cumbersome and should stop telling me what to do and how to do it. I believe in supporting those who need assistance - but I also believe again that government isn't the only outlet that can fulfill this; community organizations, churches and individuals have a duty to reach out and help the less fortunate.
I'm a Conservative because I believe criminals belong behind bars. I believe that corporations, not government, creates jobs. I'm a Conservative because, after studying history, I firmly believe that a lot of problems that Canada faced in the latter half of the twentieth century (70's and onwards) were created by the policies of the Trudeau Liberal governments.
I'm a Conservative for a lot of reasons. One day, I will fit the stereotypical idea of what a Conservative is - I'll be old, retired and probably cranky about a lot of things. But for now, I'm content to be a twenty-something, living in downtown Toronto and still... a Conservative.
I have been trying for so long to put into words why I am a Conservative, this sums it up very nicely.
ReplyDeleteNicely put young man. Without the traditional rhetoric of anti-abortion, pro-death penalty etc.. You've set forth down a fresh trail for a fresh generation of young Conservatives - in Toronto, no less. This trail will need leaders...Are you up for it?
ReplyDeletePS - Just for the record - I hate abortion and I love the death penalty!
Thanks, Rex. I think the "old" debates on issues like that are slowly dying off and people's focus is changing. What surprises me in this campaign is nobody is talking about the issues Canada faces with a growing population of older adults.
ReplyDeleteAs for being a leader, I don't know if I am! I think I'm just one of the first to speak up. I hope others will read the blog and speak out too. Conservative was a dirty word in Canada (and still is here in Toronto) and I think that's starting to change.
I'm really glad you put to words why you are a Conservative. I see so many people just voting one way (Tory, Liberal or NDP) "just because."
ReplyDeleteI'm more liberal because I believe in social justice. Like I said in another post, I think if we have the ability to help others, we have the duty to help others. I feel like my ability to help as an individual is severely limited by my budget, but if I can contribute to social programs to help others, both rich and poor, I am more than pleased to do so. I also know that humans are by nature selfish and those that are most able to help are often the least willing, and that we can't rely on community organizations, individuals, churches and the like to . Also, to quote a line from a musical that I was in, "when I help others, I'm really helping myself" because I am participating in programs that I will be able to partake in should something bad happen to me and I become destitute. I say small-l liberal because I don't always agree with the leader or the positions they take.
I think I am probably much more socially conservative than you are, but I don't necessarily think that my personal beliefs should be imposed on others that don't agree (even though I think that if we all showed restraint/took responsibility for our actions, we might solve a lot of the problems out there...)
In terms of your stance on crime (and I'm not talking about the Paul Bernardos of Canada here)... If you can prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, someone's guilt, then by all means - sentence the criminal to the highest extent of the law.
However, more often than not, I've encountered people who have been wrongfully arrested and convicted... and it seems like the measures the Conservatives would like to implement would make it that much harder on these people. They are as much victims as the actual victims of crime. Again, if it is completely obvious that someone did the crime, they should have to do the time. However, having had someone close to me be wrongfully detained, arrested, sentenced, etc... who did not deserve it in the least, I'm fearful of what would have happened had the justice system been that much tougher on him. I also know he is not the only one, and I can't help but think of the Steven Truscotts, David Milgaards and Guy Paul Morins of this country.
That being said, I know that the justice system has many problems and that is a huge part of why I chose not to pursue a career as a lawyer.
To end this long-winded post, how would you reconcile the need to appropriately punish the criminals with the need to protect the innocent that could very easily be wrongfully accused?