They say that laws are like sausages: you may like the end product, but you wouldn’t want to see one being made. The political process can get messy, but if we don’t take time to look behind the scenes, we won’t know if the process is being carried out correctly—or if the end product is safe for consumption. For the fifth entry in our series, we’re looking at the importance of the rule of law in conservatism.

We all know that American society is based on law and order. As a people, we decide what rules to establish and the consequences for breaking those rules. When people break the law, they’re punished. When they don’t, they’re not. It’s pretty simple.

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“Imagine no possessions / I wonder if you can /
No need for greed or hunger / a brotherhood of man”
 
This bit of lyrical genius, penned by the late John Lennon, comes from the song “Imagine”. Ironically, it also comes from a man who drove a $200,000 Rolls-Royce equipped with a television, phone, and refrigerator (not bad for 1965). This is the same John Lennon who once bought out the entire first-class section of a plane so that his son could play with his model train set on the floor during the trip. But who are we to judge? Maybe the kid just needed some space to help him “imagine no possessions”.

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Missouri Governor Matt Blunt announced earlier this year that he will not seek a second term in office. Hoping to take his place are Republican candidates Kenny Hulshof (US Congressman) and Sarah Steelman (State Treasurer).

The Relevant Elephant recently interviewed Congressman Kenny Hulshof. Here are his thoughts on Missouri, conservatism, and young voters:

The Relevant Elephant: What does it mean to be a conservative?

Kenny Hulshof: A conservative is someone who believes in limited government, as well as the core values upon which our nation was founded.

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Barack Obama has run an historical campaign. The first African American to clinch a major party nomination, Obama's run for the White House has generated unrivaled enthusiasm. Not only did he finally beat the pantsuit off Hillary Clinton, he's also spoken to larger crowds and raised more money than any other candidate in the history of presidential primaries.

Young voters are especially attracted to the inspiring and articulate politician from Chicago's south side. Obama has brought young voters out of the woodwork. "Yes, we can!" has become the battle cry of a generation whose main goal seems simple on the surface: change.

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Until the recent economic downturn, the war in Iraq dominated the spotlight on American media and the presidential campaign trail. It has proven to be a polarizing political issue, one that is complicated by emotion on every side—the fear of a real terrorist threat and the grief that naturally accompanies the loss or injury of any American soldier. Against this landscape, many liberals have painted themselves as lovers of peace, and conservatives as the enemies of it.

In fact, to hear some people talk, you might think that conservatives are die-hard warmongers, big bad bullies looking for a fight with anyone, anywhere and anytime. The reality, though, is that peace is a central value of American conservatism.

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We all have secrets. That's the idea behind Postsecret, one of the most popular sites in the blogosphere. Every week, five million visitors check Postsecret, viewing never-before shared secrets depicted on homemade postcards.

Some of the secrets are shocking. Others are amusing. Many are thought provoking. This particular secret stood out to me recently.

I paused to think about the colorful postcard with the black and white message. I wondered how a young conservative could be so embarrassed by their worldview that they minimized it in a defeated declaration on an anonymous website.

Recent polling indicates that for every young conservative, two young voters lean liberal. Many young liberals wear their political orientation like a fashion statement, aligning themselves with trendy views they often don't understand. In a culture where decisions are made on the basis of what's in style, it's easy for young conservatives to feel like their worldview doesn't measure up.

Never fear: The Relevant Elephant is here. Check back regularly; you'll get a fun and friendly crash course in conservatism. Before long, you'll be educating your liberal friends instead of hiding from them.

In 2003, when France openly rebuked the United States for going to war with Iraq, we struck back with a vengeance. No, we didn’t use military force; nor did we initiate a trade embargo. Rather, in an act of swift justice and retribution, we changed the name of our beloved grease-soaked potato strips from French Fries to Freedom Fries, that the name of France might forever be blotted from greasy diner menus across these United States. If a move that bold doesn’t show the world how seriously we take our freedom, nothing will.

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From old men and oil companies to the religious right, pundits are quick to label conservatives. But conservatism is bigger than people groups and public policy. It’s the overarching political philosophy that seeks to preserve the best in society.

What comes to your mind when you think of conservatism? Whatever you’re thinking, it’s important to move past labels to get a grasp on what conservatism really is before making a decision to love it or leave it.

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