Rationalization of Liberalism

     Although a post that defends conservatism might be unexpected given the history on this blog, the point that will hopefully be conveyed is that the writer does not hate conservatism just because it represents traditional values. Indeed, many people, including the writer, would like to back traditional values. For example, it was aforementioned in another blog post that conservatism has a subtle psychological appeal that lends itself to stability and a basic sense of modernism in general. Compare such nomenclature to liberal, which is heavily connoted, especially in today's political environment, with extremism and an underlying sense of wanting chaos. The point is people who choose to outwardly identify as liberal or even progressive (as even though it may sound absurd, progressives are seen as ideologues by many people) are not aliens who are somehow an exception to this tendency. Nor are they mentally insane or damaged or hopelessly different: oftentimes they choose to change ideologies after sustained and careful consideration.
     Yes, the word "change" used deliberately. After all, many people, except for a few whose communication  and belief circles perpetuate liberalism as an ends to a means, do not naturally ascribe to liberalism. Unlike conservatism, there is no consolation of preserving the status quo, no reward in going against traditional societal values as the minority, oftentimes for decades before change is actually enacted.  Now of course that is not to necessarily say that liberals are inherently smarter than conservatives-as they are not-nor is always true that liberalism does not have a calming mental effect on its own- prominently displayed in the cases of more liberally-inclined townships have a greater percentage of liberals. But even taking into account these significant exceptions, many people still are reluctant to flip to the left side of the political spectrum. It is only through extensive ostracization and a consistent estrangement to not consider the other point of view while just responding with the sentiment that "things have always been done this way," the latter being part-and-parcel to the former, that culminates into a slow, deliberate metamorphosis in terms of political ideologies.
     Obviously, most people agree that many things in society should be preserved. But sometimes change is necessary. It is only when a large group of people are disillusioned by stagnate, glaring problems that are not fixed despite a real solution existing that many liberals are formed, at least in the U.S. in today's day-and-age. Consider the fact that many contemporary revolutionaries, including the vast majority of the famed founding fathers, were originally conservative loyalists. But after a long period their grievances not being addressed, they eventually became more radical (radical being a word that is likewise heavily connoted in a negative sense unfairly by today's arguably recalcitrant society) in their beliefs and actions. George Washington himself embodies this fundamental change; he was after all a British military officer serving under General Braddock. The results of George Washington's slow radicalization can be seen today in America with such extreme ideas like liberty and democracy for all to the maximum level, equal chances for the poor through social programs, and an openness to change. Surely many people can agree that the conception of what is now the most powerful nation on Earth, responsible for many good, is a positive thing. Remember that people have to consciously choose change, an ordeal that is informal and uncertain by its very chaotic nature. However, such sentiments are formed because of a lack of modern arbitration between the two extremes. Ultimately, most sane people come around to the points that change is essential to the world, that it is always necessary based on history (and that today's times are no exception as excuses like people being equal everywhere are demonstrably false), and that people who do want societal betterment, God help them, do so with  great regret in their hearts at the prospect of having to isolate themselves with the greater part of society, with has a tendency to be conservative to a fault, to help a group of people that so need assistance to even have a real shot at the American Dream of pulling oneself up from the bootstraps.