The Modern Conservative
“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man’s oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.”
- John Kenneth Galbraith
My father sent me this quote by email recently. It’s timely in my part of the world, where both my fellow Canadians and our neighbours to the south are gearing up to elect new leaders. (Even more so, since the quote comes from a Canadian-American.)
I imagine that the modern conservative, and in fact any middle- or upper-class citizen, is faced with questions like these:
- If I work hard or am really good at earning money, am I obligated to share it with my community?
- Should I pay more tax than someone who is less successful than myself?
- What is my obligation to aid those who are living in poverty, or even just lacking the money to get better health care or seek higher education?
- Is my obligation different if those people were dealt a bad hand — or simply lost the game on their own?
Choosing to keep all your wealth to yourself is obviously selfish by definition — the decision is based on your own wants and needs. But is there something morally wrong with that? It would seem natural that you should get to enjoy the rewards of your own hard work.
But then, your ability to work and be paid for it, or to earn money through investment or other means, is greatly dependant on the society you live in. So where does your responsibility to your community end? Or does it?
How do you answer these questions?
It is a balancing act. You have to pay your share of taxes, but what is a fair percentage and finally should you be penalized for being successful. That is where my inner conflict starts. Everything we are taught and brought up with is to mold us to be successful, but once there you potentially are discouraged by unbalanced taxes and the pressure of increased moral responsibilities.
The Bible said, “where your heart is there will be your treasure also.” Yes, we worked hard for our money but do you think if God did not give us a better opportunity or connections or brains and talents, we would have earned the same amount? Do we honestly feel that we just sprouted out to this world with so many inborn talents and we own them all? What if God takes away everything through an accident or a debilitating disease? Where would we be? Our attitude should be that of an honest steward of God’s patrimony. He gives and He takes and if we become so calloused to the plight of our less fortunate brethren, what if He takes all our possessions from us? Remember 9-11? Just a thought to ponder. Thanks for the post. God bless you always.
In the US, those who promote communalism–liberal gated communities, conservative legislated morality, conservative sacrifice of civil liberties in the name of national security, both liberal and conservative legislated prohibitions of bad habits like smoking and transfats, etc.–they tend to disagree about the role of taxes even though they both have communalist objectives. Their disagreement has to do with the type of communalism we should adopt, and not whether or not we have a responsibility to our fellow human beings.
The only exception I routinely encounter comes solely from Libertarians, and not from either the Republicans or Democrats. The standard Libertarian answer to the problem of those in need, is “so?”
My suggestion is that you read The Virtue of Selfishness by Ayn Rand.
http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/selfishness.html
Best Premises,
Martin Lindeskog – American in Spirit.
Gothenburg, Sweden.
* You NEVER forget the system, the community and the country that allowed you to become successful in the first place. Absolutely, yes, you give back at the highest level you can live with.
* Taxes should be paid by everyone at the same percentage rate with no loop holes. Sure, the more you make the more you pay, but not at a higher percentage rate than anyone else and, again, you are paying back the system that allowed you to make the money in the first place.
* Again, you give back as much as you can comfortably live with, but you need to give to the right charities. Check them out and make sure your money is being used in the manner you intended it to be used when you donated it.
*No, it is not our position to judge why someone is in the position they are in. If you help then help because you care and you want to make a difference. Don’t put qualifications on your kindness and civic responsibility.
I tend to be in line with the libertarian sentiment given by Gray Kane. I don’t think it’s the best (or possibly even good) way to be, but it is the first gut reaction I tend to have.
I do however agree with a flat tax. I also agree with a national sales tax, if you buy lots of new things, you tend to pay more. There have been some great diagrams of working systems using this that also provide rebates for low income entities on things like food and other necessities.
However, to get back to the “So.” sentiment. Part of that comes from being a land owner. If someone says “other people don’t have land” my answer is “So?” If they want to give any portion of it to others I get my shotgun out. I might be very willing to help people with my land (and no, I am not some big land owner, I have one home) but it had better be my choice, and yes, there should probably be some incentive. This is not some cold desire to steal money from others, but I live in the cold reality that things still cost money.
In a nation where I get less for my dollar, where the government is lining its own pockets, and where they tell me to fend for myself ’cause any support programs are going bust fast, you better believe the justification of selfishness is going to start winning out in a lot of people very quickly.
My answers from my point of view as follows:
1. The question is how I get this money? I worked within the community and my work pay salary for me and thus I’m already sharing! However I welcome paying some money for charity.
2. Not sure! Taxes depends on the amount of income so maybe this someone is earning money more than I do!
3. Indeed!
4. Sure! Everybody has his/her own obligations!
This is my perspective that might differs from others yet I do welcome different inputs even if they contradict with what I believe in.
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