Most self-described conservatives in politics are not particularly inclined to “conserve” anything, as Spaceman Spiff points out, they’re pretty much onboard with the liberal vision they just want it to be fractionally slower or infinitesimally not-quite-as-liberal as the liberals. They are the ineffectual, neutered, tame opposition:
Modern conservatism is not conserving our world. Mainstream conservatives seem to have no interest in the real issues affecting us.
At best they merely wish to slow down our decline. At worst, they are fully on board with the destruction.
When they do act or speak they often pick a safe version of a sensitive issue.
In Britain there is lots of talk of illegal immigration and how the state mishandles it. None about ruinous volumes of legal immigration, almost one million per year, and what it is doing to the country.
Pushback against climate policy falters on the speed of changes, not the underlying fraud of climate science itself.
No conservative will honestly discuss the plummeting happiness of women recorded across the West and yet there it is, writ large in antidepressant prescriptions and social media videos. It may have multiple causes, but feminism cannot be challenged so they say nothing lest they are reprimanded by the sisterhood.
Everything real is forbidden. It is all an act.
Like the left, those on the right are increasingly unable to face reality which means they can never course correct. They are trapped within a self-referencing culdesac designed to maintain their position in someone else’s hierarchy. That is why they have become so ineffective and appear to do very little except moan about the pace of change while they say nothing about the changes themselves.
We sense the conservatives do wish to conserve things but they are inexplicably mesmerized by the opinion of their enemies. They seek reassurance and applause from people who view them as evil.
This makes no sense to ordinary people.
Thinking like the enemy
The problem with modern conservatives is they are animated by underlying drives that cannot create a conservative or traditional society. They have adopted the thinking patterns associated with the progressive left while still using the language of conservatism.
The left is traditionally defined by a series of interrelated traits that manifest in much of what they agitate for.
- A desire for centralization;
- A notable external locus of control;
- Seeking approval from the group.
Central control systems feature prominently in all left-wing schemes. From local councils to national governments, those who gravitate to the left often want to create centralized decision-making bodies to manage society. Institutions, government departments, NGOs and even charities all feature, but only when they act as the controlling authority in some field of interest.
Related to this is a clear external locus of control visible in individuals and their decisions. There is a relief others make the key decisions, so people actively seek out direction from an established authority. This ensures minimal resistance to the many centralized schemes we see emerge.
Acting solo creates discomfort. An older formulation understood this as the rejection of responsibility. Today it often manifests as an obsession with experts making key decisions for us all, partly to mask individual cowardice. People making their own decisions in life are derided as naive or dangerous.
During Covid decision makers became hysterical at the very idea we would reject the advice of experts and perform our own research despite the issue being medical and therefore dangerous.
A related phenomenon characteristic of many leftists is the need for approval, often from a group. Not just others making decisions but a dependency on confirmation and endorsement to ensure thinking and behaviour follows an established norm. This is the antithesis of original thinking or bold action; it is how adolescents often behave.
In today’s world this deep urge is reflected most in the social media landscape of harvesting attention and likes. Every fledgling narcissistic applause-seeking trait is given full expression in the endless search for approval from strangers. Whole sections of society seem lost to impulses we once understood as immature and dysfunctional.
Update: Not long after I queued this item for publication, a Canadian example popped up in the news, as yet another rock-ribbed “conservative” suddenly realized that electing a Liberal was what his constituents actually wanted when they inexplicably voted for him as a Conservative candidate in the last federal election.
Edmonton Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux has crossed the floor to the governing Liberals.
“I am honoured to welcome Matt Jeneroux to our caucus as the newest member of Canada’s new government,” said Prime Minister Mark Carney, in a post on X.
“I am grateful to Matt and his family that he will continue his service as a strong voice for Edmonton Riverbend in Parliament.”
Carney said Jeneroux, who has represented the riding of Edmonton Riverbend since 2015, will take on a new role as special advisor on economic and security partnership for the Liberals.
Jeneroux is the third Conservative to join the Liberals, after colleagues Michael Ma and Chris d’Entremont crossed the floor late last year.
A Liberal source says Jeneroux first met Carney back in November, which was the first of at least two conversations, with talks between Carney’s office and Jeneroux continuing since. That source added that it has been a “long journey” to Wednesday’s announcement.
d’Entremont crossed the floor to join the Liberals in November, which unleashed a wave of speculation as to who might be next, with Jeneroux’s name heavily floated. Jeneroux then announced his plans to resign from the Conservative caucus, citing family reasons. Since then, he has not voted with the Conservatives and did not attend the party’s recent convention in Calgary in late January.
After Carney’s announcement, the prime minister updated his daily itinerary, adding a stop in Edmonton to meet with Jeneroux before attending events in British Columbia.
“Matt brings a wealth of experience in Parliament, despite his young demeanor,” said Carney, while sitting next to Jeneroux.
The MP from Edmonton welcomed the prime minister and laid out the reasons for why he had reversed his decision to resign.
“I had announced my resignation back in November, largely due to family reasons, but quite simply, couldn’t sit on the sidelines after seeing what the prime minister’s ambitious agenda he was undertaking across the country and across the world,” he said.
“Quite honestly, it was the speech in Davos where you took everything head on,” he added.
Jeneroux said it felt disingenuous and “quite simply wrong” to sit on the sidelines.
Not that I would expect honesty from a turncoat, but floor crossing could be prevented by simply requiring a by-election call if a member of Parliament wants to change parties. Force them to run under the banner they want to change to, and give the voters the opportunity to have a say.
As to the larger conversation about “conservative” politicians not being conservative, sadly this seems to be born out by the terrible job that was done in the UK. Now, the CPC hasn’t had a chance to show their possible conservatism since PM Harper ran the country, I would say give them at least a chance to prove or disprove their credentials. Out biggest problem in Canada is that we have very mushy “conservative” supporters. The desire to have “real conservative politicians” fights against the idea that any of those people could actually win seats seems to be beyond ordinary consideration by “conservative” supporters. I see far to many rigid thinkers who forget that you need to win an election to run the country. The “progressives” have the right idea when it comes to winning, they do anything to win. They have no moral compass, they will say and do whatever it takes to win power. Once in power, they don’t need to worry about keeping promises, or doing what is best for the country, they do what makes them and their friends the most money. It astounds me how many “progressive” supporter want to “eat the rich” without actually seeing that the people they keep electing are the rich, who keep passing laws to protect themselves and their friends.
If I was to give advice to the CPC I would suggest that they go hard at media subsidies. Point out how much money is given now, and then counter all of the attacks by the bought and paid for media with the statement that they are only trying to preserve their paychecks by supporting the Liberal Party who bought them. Too often I see the parrots out there mindlessly repeating talking points from the mainstream media, who have every reason now to oppose any political party what would take away their free lunch.
Comment by Dwayne — February 19, 2026 @ 17:39
I understand the urge, but that’s not what our traditions lead toward. In the past, the most honourable route was to resign the seat, then to contest the resulting by-election for the party you now wanted to represent, but it was never the law. That gives the voters the full say, and if you don’t persuade them to support you under the new banner, tough.
I watched it happen, yet I still struggle to believe that the party of Margaret Thatcher sank so low. They really did seem to be controlled by people who hated Britain and so, so many of their “leaders” turned out to be the hollowest of hollow men.
I want to give them credence, but there are lots of signs that they’re just like their British counterparts. Some of the policy votes at their recent party conference would have gone the same way at a Liberal or even an NDP party conference.
Quite true. Amply demonstrated by the current Prime Minister.
I’m afraid they think that if they become the government, the bought-and-paid-for media will suddenly switch to singing hosannas at their every move and be their propaganda arm the way that they have been for the Liberals even before the direct subsidies started. They’re living in a fantasy world if they think the media will ever give them a fair shake.
Cut the subsidies, gut the CBC and sell off everything to the highest bidder and let the f*ckers lear (sic) how to code. Let them get their eLbOwS uP! in the unemployment line.
Comment by Nicholas — February 19, 2026 @ 21:30