LETTERS: WHO IS CONSERVATIVE?

To the editor:

In your Feb. 5 editorial you bemoan the fact that only 52 percent of the population equates the term "conservative" with Republican and "liberal" with Democrat. The problem, in reality, may be less that of the American population than of your assumption that these constitute simple and legitimate equations.

Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines conservative as "tending or disposed to maintain existing views, conditions or institutions" and "marked by moderation or caution." The same source appropriately turns to the origin of liberalism in the United Kingdom and defines liberal as follows: "Associated with the ideals of individual especially economic freedom."

Meanwhile, conservation, with the same root as conservative, is "a careful preservation and protection of something, especially planned management of a natural resource." Given the commitment to conservation of Teddy Roosevelt and so many Republican Party ancestors, it is confusing to find environmental conservatism so absent from the current Republican Party leadership.

Conservative, meanwhile, is a term that would be better applied to today's conservationists and environmentalists, since these are the folks who argue for conservation and cautious management of natural resources. On the other hand, the radical and activist Contract With America Republicans, who are forcing on us reduced health standards and the exploitation and destruction of our natural resources for short-term profit as they attempt to destroy 25 years of successful environmental legislation, are about as far from conservative as you can get. The terms "conservative" and "liberal" seem to be applicable only on an issue-by-issue basis.

It is no wonder that the public is confused. Opinion polls consistently show that the majority of voting independents, Democrats and Republicans are environmentally conservative. We recognize that we have but one chance on this planet with our experiment in human civilization. We are cautious, prudent and wish to conserve the planet's resources for future generations. From our point of view, conservative Republicans are hard to find in the current Congress. Rather, these Republicans are behaving just like liberals in their drive for unregulated economic freedom at whatever cost.

ALAN P. JOURNET

Cape Girardeau