Conservatism means going with tried and proven methods of governance. What that means depends on the culture and history of the country or region. The proven method of governance American Conservatism embraces is the principles of the Founding Fathers and Framers of the Constitution. The secret to the success of the Constitution is it’s recognition and protection of Natural (Individual) Rights and limited government. These type of rights are inherent in the individual. They do not need an outside enabler, like government, to bestow them or make them work. Limited government means the proper role of government, besides specific powers given to it by the Constitution, is limited to protecting the Individuals rights and liberties, their ability to exercise them.
This framework puts the responsibility for personal success and prosperity on the individual. It gives maximum respect to the individuals abilities as a person, that they know what’s best for themselves, not government that thinks it knows what’s best for them. Natural Rights gives the individual to go as far as their abilities will take them. Conservatives don’t have a problem with inequity in peoples’ lives, just as long as they are not kept from rising above those inequities. Help, when needed comes from interactions of individuals in the private sector, the community and charity in general. The less government involvement, the better, people become dependent on government. Any government help should be as local as possible. Other principles associated with all this is equal opportunity (not equal outcome), equal justice (not social justice), Individualism (not Collectivism), Natural (Individual) Rights, (not “Human” Collective Rights) and charity (not government welfare).
Another part of tried and proven governance is free-market Capitalism. It has been responsible for creating more wealth, for more people (including the poor) than any other system ever devised. When there is a choice between a government run service and a private sector one; the private sector can do it more cost-effectively, efficiently, with more flexibility, with more accountability and with more attentiveness. You take for granted the quality and inexpensiveness of goods that surround you. When business is not loaded down with over-regulation (some regulation is necessary) of government that thinks it knows how to run their businesses better than they can, and taxation to support the big-government welfare State, business can flourish, expand. This creates real, sustainable jobs. Limited government keeps government out of trying to get business to do it’s bidding, playing favorites and getting favored treatment in return (i.e. crony Capitalism). Conservatism has no problem with the profit motive when there is a level playing field that promotes competition. Everyone benefits, a rising tide lifts all boats.
Social Conservatism has a place also. Hopefully, your parents taught you some moral behavior for you to practice out in the world. Social Conservatism just expects this behavior from people. This again, comes from what Conservatism is, tried and proven forms of governance. Religious faith also plays a bigger part (mostly Christianity) with Social Conservatives. Morals are what people do when they think no one is looking, Christians know that God is always looking. The level of moral behavior in an area is directly proportional to the prosperity and overall health of the area.
All this is not because Conservatives don’t care, it’s because they do. Saying “no” sometimes is healthy, not “mean” or “hateful”. What is more sustainable 300 million people (pop of US) being taken care of by government or 300 million people taking care of their own lives? This is not a goal but a healthy guideline. Conservatism is even willing to bend in some areas. It is not dogmatic. Oversteps of the Constitution are often accepted. Conservatives just want to make them better, using the power of the free-market.