"Why I'm a conservative" Part 2
Three more young Canadians share their reasons for identifying as conservative
Welcome to part two of the “why I’m a conservative” series, which gives Canadians from different walks of life an opportunity to share why they identify as conservatives, in their own words. Part two of this series features two current students and a recent graduate who want to share their perspectives with other Canadians.
Remember: This series isn’t about everybody agreeing with one another. Certainly, there are important disagreements between conservatives. But this is a good faith effort to learn why conservatives believe what they do. Also, we spell conservative with a small “c” because there is a difference between being a movement conservative and a partisan conservative. Many Canadians have conservative views, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they identify with conservative political parties.
“Why I’m a conservative…”
Takdeer Brar is a university student who works at B’nai Brith Canada and the Canada Strong and Free Network. Here’s why Takdeer says he’s a conservative:
"I am a conservative because I believe that as a citizen of a western liberal democracy I am due my inheritance of the traditions of liberty, equality and excellence. It is for the sole purpose of preserving this tradition for future generations that I call myself a conservative."
Christian Lopez is a PhD candidate in the field of medical sciences in Toronto. Here’s why Christian says he’s a conservative:
My motivation to contribute to this series stems from feeling severely restricted in my ability to express my opinions in my professional life.
When reflecting on why I would consider myself a conservative, I revisited one of my favourite books, Jonathan Haidt’s The Righteous Mind. My moral compass is generally composed of two moral foundations, including fairness (i.e., equal opportunity) and liberty (i.e., free expression and free markets). These moral foundations have led me to be in favour of three principles that I believe are worth conserving. Unfortunately, these principles are being opposed and reversed by many on the left. They include equality, objective truth, and free speech.
I’m in favour of equality and reject equity. I believe in targeted interventions to support those in need with opportunities, but believe that policies that attempt to socially engineer equal outcomes are ineffective and harmful. I believe that the best way to respond to key issues and propose solutions is to use the scientific method. High quality evidence includes methods to reduce bias and use the best available data to arrive at a conclusion. The use of subjective lived experiences should be limited when debating the effect of policies. Lastly, I believe that it is imperative that we do not implement subjective hate speech policies as progress will be restricted without rigorous debate.
Remarkably, I've witnessed that while health care providers and researchers may state they are in favour of free speech and equality, and apply objective evidence-based processes in their clinical and research roles, these principles are often ignored when discussing mainstream topics (e.g., systemic racism, public health measures, and environmental policies). I believe it is imperative that more people speak out in favour of conserving the abovementioned principles in academic and clinical settings.
Jonah Davids is the director of communications at the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology. He is also the author of the “Mental Disorder” newsletter on Substack. Here’s why Jonah says he’s a conservative:
I used to be a leftist who thought that high taxes, universal basic income, and free university for all would solve most social problems. But, as I’ve gotten older, what I’ve learned about human nature and politics has pushed me toward the political right.
The theory of human nature underlying modern progressive politics is that humans are born blank slates and then come to have their values, preferences, and abilities shaped by their environment. If such a theory is true, then most personal, social, and political problems can be solved by changing people’s environments, and differences in outcomes between individuals are attributable to differences in their resources, experiences, and opportunities.
By contrast, conservative theories of human nature—such as the capitalist idea that humans are naturally motivated by self-interest or the religious idea that humans are born with "original sin"—depict humans as being influenced by both nurture and nature. This allows for more nuance when trying to explain choices and behaviours. It also promotes greater humility among governments, encouraging them to know where public policy can and can't make a difference.
While it’s valuable to raise the living standards of all people, conservatives understand that no matter how prosperous a society might be, there will always be individual differences in financial success and personal achievement. The goal should not be to force everyone to think and live the same way, but to ensure that people are free to live up to their potential.
Thanks for reading part two of “why I’m a conservative.” If you’d like to contribute to the part three, please contact me at jamil@canadastrongandfree.network
I loved this. Thank you.