In the wake of the greatest terrorist attack to ever take place on US soil, President George W. Bush was thrust into the most difficult situation imaginable. How he led our country after the attack would define the next generation of American politics. It would have been easy for America to shut down, to isolate itself from the world in the face of terror. Instead, President Bush brought our country together, closer than we had ever been before or since, under the umbrella of Compassionate Conservatism.
The framework of Compassionate Conservatism, as outlined by President Bush, rejects the false dichotomy of ‘big government’ and ‘indifferent government’. Rather, Compassionate Conservatism looks to build a focused government, one that “does a few things and does them well”, in the words of then-Press Secretary Ari Fleishcer.
Compassionate Conservatism does not reject the outside world, but embraces it. That said, it recognizes the failures of broad aid and the corruption it creates overseas. Instead of choosing to cut off international aid, the policies of Compassionate Conservatism set up reforms - allowing aid only to the nations which root out corruption, ensuring that the money goes to the citizens rather than the pockets of that nation’s own government.
But fighting poverty at home as just as paramount as fighting it abroad. Compassionate Conservatism recognizes the importance of welfare. But a good welfare system is not one that simply provides handouts. Rather, a strong welfare system is one that builds a system which allows people to rise to their feet. Encouraging work and helping the unemployed to find it allows these people to no longer rely on handouts, but instead live with dignity. Welfare is a system to allow people to build themselves back up, not one that keeps them chained to the government’s dime.
The government cannot fix every problem. But it can support and strengthen communities to help them solve their own problems. Compassionate Conservatism recognizes a good government not as one that controls its citizens, but as one that allows them to build their own lives. Under Compassionate Conservatism, the government will build your roads, but it will not drive your car. You, the people, are in charge of your destiny. In other words, through active government, Compassionate Conservatism promotes self-government.
Compassion is not softness. Compassion is not weakness. Compassion is respect for and trust in your citizens. America is now more divided than it has ever been, but it was only 20 years ago that we were united as one. We the people control the future of our government. Let us return to the framework of Compassionate Conservatism and build back the unity we once had as Americans.
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