Benj,
This whole Left vs. Right and Liberal vs. Conservative thing is a very confusing smoke-screen for me. In my mind the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights are right there in the middle of the road – the road to human life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. The European Right, i.e.: Monarchy, Emperors, Fascist Dictators etc. etc.; and the European Left, i.e.: “World Socialism” and Communism have both fallen into the two opposite ditches of state tyranny. There is no difference between the European Right and the European Left; they are both elitist forms of law and government which suppress sacred human rights and rule without the consent of the governed.

What is called the American Right is, in my own experience and in my own family, simply adherence to the founding ideas of our great Republic; and as such is a mis-labeling. The American Left, however, really does bear striking resemblance to the European Left. If there are American Fascists out there, I hate their tyranny; just as I do American Communists; a pox on both of their houses.

As an American Conservative, I love and adhere to, and wish to conserve our Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights – as written – as agreed to by the writers and the people – and as understood by ordinary Americans. As a modern American Conservative I admire and love the great Liberal ideas of our Founding Fathers. Modern American Conservative = Classic Liberal = Me

“Laws are made for men of ordinary understanding and should, therefore, be construed by the ordinary rules of common sense. Their meaning is not to be sought for in metaphysical subtleties which may make anything mean everything or nothing at pleasure.” Thomas Jefferson

“The issue today is the same as it has been throughout all history, whether man shall be allowed to govern himself or be ruled by a small elite.” Thomas Jefferson