I think this is the first time I've seen an attempt to "define" the term, thanks for that. Personally, I have a lot of difficulty both defining and fitting myself in to categories. Best I can usually come up with is actually from that linky in my sig; mostly Libertarian, fiscally Republican, and a bit Democrat/Liberal on the more "moral" social issues side of thing. I need a party who is mostly Republican without all the religious riders :/
We are all so varied and unique in our perspectives that I am surprised how many can so easily define their belief's within a single party. I've never been able to and this often makes me envious of how easy it is for others to vote heh
I dont think of myself as conservative, though all m y friends and family tell me that I am.
I dont care for ideology dictating to me what I can or should believe is true. IMO, only the church can do that, and they are ******* up roundly.
What I do think I am is a 'Truth Seeker'. I want to know what I have in error, or is fallacious, and what is correct and what is True. IF I think I am wrong then I will not advocate or promote that item, and if I find something that seems more truthful I adopt it.
The pursuit of ideological versions of Truth is a recursive feed back loop that consumes itself. We need all points of view to keep the ship of America on course, and to insist that only one ideology holds that truth is a sign of either intellectual laziness, ideological dishonesty or idiocy.