How Conservatives Tackle Social Problems

I liked this piece in the Washington Post the other day, written by a scholar from the pragmatist-right American Enterprise Institute.  The author, Douglas Besharov, lists six principles of how a conservative approaches a social problems (and I encourage you to read his fuller explanation of all of these).

1. A preference for limited government
2. A desire to means-test or otherwise target government benefits
3. A concern about the behavioral consequences of assistance
4. A deference to mediating institutions
5. Respect for private choice, often in the form of markets
6. Humility bred from disappointing experiences -- and the likelihood of unintended consequences

He finishes strong as well:

When a problem seems bad enough, people often want to "do something," whether or not it is unproven or unlikely to succeed. Being conservative sometimes means seeing problems and deciding that nothing can be done -- at least not immediately. (That should not be the end of the inquiry. Being conservative includes a commitment to experimentation -- even with ideas with which one does not agree -- coupled with rigorous and honest evaluation.) These principles actually apply to any sound approach to social policymaking. One does not have to be conservative to be wary of unrealistic goals and the possible ill-effects of government intervention.