If conservatives were true to conservatism….

True conservatives would want to conserve natural resources, not exploit them and pollute them, all in the name of free enterprise.

True conservatives would want to conserve our nation’s youthful vitality by invigorating educational infrastructure and not sending young people into phony wars.

Conservatives always prattle on about individual freedom and achievement. OK. Yes. And how many conservatives would be a bit upset or disrupted if the pictures above were adopted as new symbols of conservatism? We all know the answer. True conservatism celebrates achievement and success…and participatory, pluralistic democracy…no matter one’s color.

True conservatives would conserve capitalism’s economic power by ensuring access and fairness for all capitalism’s participants by relentlessly enforcing rules that punish abuse of capital and free markets, and reward those who honestly and fairly create wealth through innovation, hard work and accountable risk.

True conservatives would want to conserve this country’s beacon of light for the world — religious freedom — by ensuring government does not delude itself by thinking it is a messenger of any one god and does not impose a discrete brand of religion on the citizenry. True conservative public servants would serve the people agnostically, and be blind to people who choose to serve their own faith traditions.

True conservatives would be diligent conservators of our most prized civic commodities — health, education, land/air/water, commerce, art and culture — by employing reason, tolerance, science and research to protect and advance their value.

True conservatives would conserve, not denigrate, hijack, deceive, divide, hoard and exploit.