Conservative beliefs, right this way

Whenever the left can't win an argument or a rational debate, especially regarding the economy, they resort to name calling. Their vessel is the national media who, since Nixon, has been critical of most every administration­ — until recently.

Centralized, mainstream media wants Americans to stray from conservative values. Channels like NBC and its affiliates tell us daily that people who hold to traditional American values must be racist, ignorant fanatics, comparing them to immature adolescents in need of discipline.

Thus, I feel the need to redefine conservatism.

Generally, conservatives believe in a limited government, one questioned, checked and balanced by its citizens in order to develop a more perfect union. This philosophy believes that celebrities and public officials, no matter how articulate or captivating, are human and may fall victim to vices of greed, deceit, radicalism and power lust.

Only radical groups themselves view conservatives as radicals.

Conservatives trust that all Americans are equal, regardless of race, religion or orientation. That diversity makes America great and has led us to unsurpassed success as a nation.

Charity should be voluntary and a condition of the heart, not a mandatory state requirement and that life, in all forms, is a precious gift worthy of existence whether or not a bureaucrat says as much.

A conservative believes Americans are citizens of the United States of America, not of the world; therefore, we are not subject to the conditions other nations may devise as temporary peace or satisfaction.

It is important that we remain at a social and economic advantage to retain our liberties; this advantage ultimately benefits developing nations.

Conservatives believe that anyone willing to work towards success can achieve it.

Conservatives believe the private industry or the market allocates resources more efficiently and, as President Reagan believed, ultimately provides more opportunities for accomplishment than a few politicians in a distant capital, who seldom have held real jobs, could ever do.

Critics often misrepresent conservative philosophy as judgmental and judge it accordingly. Instead, it is a culture of rational self-examination, forgiveness and accommodation. Self-examination is the key to finding what you believe in life, looking at your own strengths and weaknesses and improving yourself by taking responsibility for your own actions rather than blaming isolated groups or "the man."

Conservatives generally believe that if something sounds too good to be true, it often is.

The private sector provides incentives and benefits through the theory of expectancy, rewarding individuals through what they hold as valuable. Coercion is the government's only power of incentive. Coercion is not an incentive; rather, it masquerades as such to gain temporary support by force often utilizing taxes, police, military, presumably health care and now credit.

Remember, the government works for us. We don't work for them.

Jordan Sligar is an entrepreneurship senior.