Resolving the conservatism vs. liberalism conflict
By Mark A. Bard
web posted July 14, 2025
Puzzle Solved
Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, wrote "The Seven Core Principles of Conservatism." The highly respected conservative thinker, Russell Kirk, authored the essay titled "Ten Conservative Principles." And, an article titled "Defining the Principles of Conservatism" by the Hon. Kay Coles James is currently posted at The Heritage Foundation's website.
While each of these writings is valid and insightful, they - and other well-reasoned listings of conservative principles - prompt a critically important question until now unanswered. Why do true conservatives adhere to their similar core beliefs?
As examples, why do conservatives tend to share similar positions on such seemingly unrelated social elements as late-term abortions, family commitments, federal debt, illegal immigration, national defense, and our vulgar popular culture?
The solution to this puzzle is best understood by viewing conservatism as a morality rather than as some sort of esoteric ideology. Specifically,
Conservatism is the love thy neighbor as thyself (LTN) morality applied to the societal level.
Using this moral perspective, the reason that conservatives support similar positions on the diverse issues listed above is easily explained. It is simply because conservatives share a LTN morality that causes them to perceive the moral implications of each controversial social element in a similar way.
LTN morality is the universal moral principle that simply obligates everyone to always treat other people the same way that they believe other people are morally obligated to treat them.
How Conservatives Believe They Are Morally Obligated to Treat Others
True conservatives perceive themselves and each of their fellow citizens as sovereign (meaning autonomous} and sacred (having incalculable value) beings who are morally endowed with certain LTN rights.
Given this perception, conservatives believe that every citizen morally deserves to be treated in such a way that never violates any of their LTN rights.
Love Thy Neighbor Rights
Although there would surely be differences in emphasis, organization, and detail, the LTN rights identified by most sane Americans would include everyone's natural rights along with their self-evident rights to dignity and morality.
1. Natural Rights (as cited in the Declaration)
A. Equality
B. Life
C. Liberty
D. Pursuit of Happiness (includes Property and Contracting rights)
2. Human Dignity Rights
A. Respectful Treatment (includes Privacy}
B. Physical Well-Being (includes Health Care Contracting)
C. Honest Dealings
D. Compassionate Care (whenever an individual is in need)
E. Appreciation/Loyalty
F. Vigilant Protection (citizens are obligated to protect each other's rights)
3. Moral Existence Rights
A. Morally Good Society (to exist therein)
B. Morally Decent Person (to be nurtured into becoming)
C. Morally Decent Others (to coexist with)
Violations of an Individual's LTN Rights
"A democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. . . ." Benjamin Franklin
The morally good democracy that every true American conservative strives to support is one in which every citizen's LTN rights are never violated.
Such violations occur whenever an individual pursues some sort of pleasurable gratificationfor himself or herself by doing something that violates the LTN rights of an innocent citizen(s).
There are two ways by which a citizen's LTN rights are violated: a personal violation or a social element violation.
As an example of personal violation, suppose that a wolf and a lamb are members of the same society. One day, out of the blue, the wolf pounces on the much weaker lamb and devours the poor creature for lunch. The wolf surely enjoyed his gratifying pleasure and the innocent lamb's right to life was certainly violated.
With a social element violation, in pursuit of gratifying pleasures, a coalition of citizens support an immoral social element even though that element violates the LTN rights of the innocent.
Suppose in a democracy consisting of two wolves and one lamb, a referendum on what to have for lunch is held. In that situation, a social element violationoccurs when the wolves - as an entitled majority - vote to support an immoral social element titled the Federal Lamb Slaughtering Agency.
The Conservative LTN Position on Social Elements
A social element (SE) is any component of society that impacts the LTN rights of citizens - either protecting those rights or violating them. Without exception, all conservative vs. liberal conflicts focus on the purpose and authority of America's social elements.
Although conservatives do not agree on every political and social SE, the predominant conservative position on every one is intended to protect the LTN rights of their fellow citizens.
Fifteen examples follow:
Conservative SE Position |
LTN Rights Protected by Conservative Position |
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Oppose Late-Term Abortions |
Life and Compassionate Care rights of viable unborn children. |
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Oppose Affirmative Action Quotas |
Equality and Respectful Treatment rights of discriminated against Americans. |
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Support Deterrent Defense Spending |
Morally Good Society rights of present Americans and our posterity. |
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Support Reasonable Election Safeguards |
Equality and Honest Dealings rights of every American voter. |
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Support Family and Marriage Commitments |
Morally Decent Person rights of children (usually better encouraged within two-parent marriages) and the Morally Decent Others rights of all citizens. |
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Oppose Unnecessary Federal Debt |
Pursuit (Property) rights of future generations to use their earnings for their Physical Well-being and to provide Compassionate Care to their needy. |
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Support Free Enterprise |
Liberty and Pursuit rights of Americans especially business owners, employees, and consumers. |
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Oppose Unreasonable Gun Controls |
Life, Physical Well-being and Vigilant Protection rights of innocent Americans. |
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Oppose Illegal Immigration |
Honest Dealings rights of Americans and legal immigration applicants and the Compassionate Care rights of our deserving citizens. |
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Support Patriotism |
Appreciation/Loyalty rights of our soldiers and forebears for the sacrifices made to provide us with a Morally Good Society. |
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Oppose Excessive Vulgarity in Popular Culture |
Morally Decent Person rights of every child and the Respectful Treatment and Vigilant Protection rights of citizens (especially those of girls and women). |
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Oppose Racism |
Equality and Respectful Treatment rights of all Americans (violated by such liberal theories as Woke and CRT). |
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Oppose Reparations |
Equality, Respectful Treatment, and Pursuit (Property) rights of present and future Americans. |
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Oppose Punitive Taxation |
Pursuit and Honest Dealings rights of non-impoverished citizens, (Conservatives support taxation that is fair and progressive; not based on envy or unjust confiscation.) |
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Oppose our Exploitative Welfare System |
Respectful Treatment and Compassionate Care rights of deserving citizens (that would be better protected by a system that provides essentials while encouraging self-sufficiency) and the Pursuit (Property) rights of all taxpayers. |
Resolving the Conservatism vs. Liberalism Conflict
If liberals agree that the only criterion that Americans should use to settle our social element conflicts is which position best protects the LTN rights of the innocent, then true conservatives are confident all our disagreements will be quickly resolved.
For any social element(s) (whether or not listed above), will any liberal - who believes they can -please present a convincing argument(s) that their position(s) better protects the LTN rights of innocent citizens?
True conservatives will seriously evaluate those liberal arguments. And, should they conclude that the liberal position on any SE better protects the LTN rights of any Americans, they will fulfill their moral obligation by supporting the liberal position.
Otherwise, for any SE for which liberals are unable to present an honest moral rebuttal, conservatives trust that liberals will fulfill their moral obligation to support the conservative LTN position. 
Mark A. Bard is a lifelong and now-retired conservative residing in Maine. His book, Obligated Conservatism vs. Entitled Liberalism: America's Moral Divide, explains, in detail, that the love thy neighbor morality is the basis of Obligated Conservatism. His booklet titled "The Entitled Liberal Coalition Theory" details the rationalization that justifies and the selfish gratifications that motivate the behaviors of entitled liberals. For a free pdf copy of his booklet, please email mbardpax@outlook.com.
