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		A Vibrant American Conservatism By Tom Feeney, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives From its beginning, America has been bathed in liberty. The Declaration of Independence -- declared "American Scripture" by historian Pauline Maier -- proclaimed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident. That all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness..." Philadelphia's Liberty Bell -- inscribed with the phrase from Leviticus 25:10 "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof" -- rang to announce the first public reading of the Declaration on July 8, 1776. During the ensuing Revolutionary War, the slogan "Liberty or Death" roused Americans to the independence cause. After winning that fight and establishing a Constitutional government, the historian Walter A. McDougall notes: "What did fire the American imagination was liberty and its fruits, peace and prosperity. The eagle and goddess of liberty were ubiquitous subjects of illustration, the former protecting the latter." Today, ask any immigrant about their new country's greatest attribute and they inevitably reply: "America is a place where you can be who you want to be." Even newcomers quickly grasp and succinctly define liberty. Americans fiercely defend their freedom. The first U.S. Navy jack proclaimed this warning: "Don't Tread on Me." Automobile license plates from the state of New Hampshire prominently display this phrase "Live Free or Die." No nuance here! As long as Americans love liberty and sustain the will to defend it, America's conservative movement will remain popular and vibrant. A subtle translation may assist my colleagues across the pond in understanding this American phenomenon. As Frederick Hayek observed, American conservatism is more akin to European classical liberalism. Because the American experience differs from its European counterpart, traditional European conservatism never gathered much traction in America. American conservatism has more commonality with British conservatives in that both have been inspired by the philosophies of Plato, Locke, Smith, Burke and political heroes like Disraeli, Churchill, and Thatcher. In democracies, majorities are built around coalitions. So America's conservative movement consists of a large mansion with many rooms inhabited by libertarians, neoconservatives, paleoconservatives, social conservatives, economic supply-siders, free market boosters, and others. A healthy debate among these groups can by found in National Review, The Weekly Standard, Human Events, The Wall St. Journal's op-ed page, Commentary, the hallways of think tanks like the Heritage Foundation, the Cato Institute, and the American Enterprise Institute, and the chambers of U.S. and state legislatures. Trying to provide a complete synopsis of this rich diversity of thought is daunting and beyond this essay's scope. So a general outline must do for now but will nevertheless provide insight into this sizeable political movement. Since its inception, America has always been engaged with the world both in diplomacy and trade while opening its doors to a staggering array of races, creeds, and nationalities. Sit in an Iowa coffee shop across from a farmer and you will be drawn into a sophisticated discussion of European Union agricultural subsidies along with the outlook for grain exports to China. U.S. Congressional caucuses (informal organizations of Congressmen interested in a specific policy topic) follow relations with dozens of countries and regions both prominent and obscure. American conservatism follows this tradition of engagement. Charges of isolationism are utter canards -- those few lured by the sirens' call of isolationism have been marginalized by today's shrinking world. However from our viewpoint, America's engagement with the world is tied to our national interest -- the preservation of liberty. History demonstrates that freedom is an anomaly, not the normal state of human existence. Accordingly, American conservatives take a sober view of the world and recognize the true nature of our real and dangerous enemies. For example, we don't view the threat posed by a virulent form of Islamic fascism as a "nuisance." Instead, we place it in the same category as the Gathering Storm in Germany or the Evil Empire in the Soviet Union. The political allegiances of American conservatives don't transcend national borders. Our patriotism is maddening especially to many Europeans. We firmly refuse to subordinate American interests to multinational organizations. And American conservatives are not relinquishing American sovereignty to others -- waiting to pass a "global test" before taking action to defend our interests. Yet, American conservatives eagerly seek to build coalitions and alliances like those that defeated the various forms of 20th Century totalitarianism (communism, Nazism, fascism, and Japanese militarism) and expanded international trade and commerce. In these endeavors, nations join an effort to pursue a common cause but do so for their own -- and often unique -- national interests. Domestically, conservatives seek to preserve liberty while being respectful of the wisdom contained in civic and social institutions, tradition, and culture. Russell Kirk's The Conservative Mind outlines these beliefs and a transcendent order in the following terms: •   Considerable caution should be maintained before changing the traditions, mores, and conventions that bind our society together -- not just today but over preceding and succeeding generations. • Custom, convention, and tradition are preferred over a radical change that some visionary dreamed up yesterday; and • Freedom and property are inextricably linked; • No single mind or collective group of geniuses can fully understand the design of the complexities of human relations and the mysteries of a higher law (i.e. God); Accordingly, American conservatives resist what Margaret Thatcher labelled "the nanny state" and Bernard Levin described as "the government's intention of reducing us all to children." We reject such paternalism and prefer to be as Thomas Sowell described: "a nation of independent people controlling our own lives." Limited government remains a touchstone for conservative thought for such limits are inseparably linked to the dignity of free individuals. Finally, we reject utopian schemes implemented by social engineering -- the fetish animating the Left. During my career as an elected official -- as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and now a member of the U.S. House of Representatives -- I've distilled this conservative thought to six principles that guide me as I decide whether to support legislation ("bills"). For the sake of brevity and clarity, I've placed these principles on a wallet sized card and distributed thousands of them to elected officials and supporters. They are: 1.   Less Government -- Does the bill tend to reduce government regulations, size of government, eliminate entitlements, or unnecessary programs? 2. Lower Taxes -- Does the bill promote individual responsibility in spending, or reduce taxes or fees? 3. Personal Responsibility -- Does the bill encourage responsible behavior by individuals and families and encourage them to provide for their own health, safety, education, moral fortitude, or general welfare? 4. Individual Freedom -- Does the bill increase opportunities for individuals or families to decide, without hindrance or coercion from government, how to conduct their own lives and make personal choices? 5. Stronger Families -- Does the bill enhance the traditional American family and its power to rear children without excessive interference from the government? 6. Domestic Tranquillity, National Defence -- Does the bill enhance American security without unduly burdening civil liberty? This succinct guide to preserving liberty was adopted by the Republican Study Committee, a group of 92 free-market, socially conservative members of the U.S. House of Representatives. I urge all of you to draft a similar set of principles to help guide your responsibilities as lawmakers. Let me close with characteristically American optimism. Sometimes outsiders like France's Alexis de Tocqueville (his Democracy in America remains insightful 145 years after publication) best grasp the American character. The British historian Paul Johnson dedicated A History of the American People as follows: "This book is dedicated to the people of America -- strong, outspoken, intense in their convictions, sometimes wrong-headed but always generous and brave, with a passion for justice no nation has ever matched." Because of our differing histories and cultures, Americans can be exacerbating to some Europeans. But American intensity and conviction are inevitably based on our passion for justice and desire to preserve human freedom. Our intentions are honorable. Please don't be persuaded otherwise. America and Europe share more in common than what divides us. While liberty is deeply ingrained into the American soul, it remains a universal longing. Europe knows only too well the devastating consequences when liberty is threatened and lost. Let's rededicate ourselves to the common cause of preserving freedom and human dignity -- difficult struggles we've joined before and won. US Congressman Tom Feeney Congressman Feeney represents the 24th District of Florida in the United States Congress where he serves on the Financial Services and Judiciary committees as well as the Science committee, and serves as a Deputy Whip. In his first term in Congress, Feeney introduced and passed an amendment to the PROTECT Act which makes it more difficult for federal judges to issue sentences below the federal sentencing guidelines in cases involving kidnapping, violence or sex crimes against children. Additionally he co-sponsored and led a reform to the tax code which allows Florida taxpayers to deduct the amount of sales tax they pay, in lieu of deducting a state income tax. Congressman Feeney also co-founded the Washington Waste Watchers, a working group formed to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in federal government.