How do you define a tory?

[defender]

So, in theory, if you had to explain to someone who had just woke up from a 1000 year coma, how would you explain what a tory really is in this day and age?

[elvenrunelord]

To me a Tory is a person who was born and raised in England. They are a little stiff necked and very proper in some ways, but are good hearted people with a brght outlook on life.

[Oigen]

They're people that are going on beaten, safe paths. That isn't to say that they lack courage, but is to say that they care for their people that much that they won't risk their wealth and good life on chasing risky opportunities. They're people with their heads on their shoulders.

[peterf]

Originally Posted by elvenrunelord

To me a Tory is a person who was born and raised in England. They are a little stiff necked and very proper in some ways, but are good hearted people with a brght outlook on life.

Oh, so that rules me out then. How thoughtless of my English parents to be living in Paris at the time I was born.

A Tory is someone who believes in working with the grain of human nature.

[longtimetory]

Comparison with others can help define thus

LABOUR seeks to pull down wealth; CONSERVATIVES seek to raise people from poverty
LABOUR seeks to destroy private interests; CONSERVATIVES seek to reconcile private interests with public rights
LABOUR seeks to control enterprise; CONSERVATIVES seek to free enterprise
LABOUR exalt the rule; CONSERVATIVES exalt the man
LABOUR attacks capital; CONSERVATIVES attack monopoly

(With thanks to WSC)

[mandiees]

I would say that simply put, a tory is someone that puts traditional political and social institutions against the forces of reform.

[Steve99]

The problem with a definition of a Tory is that what Tories have stood for has changed over time. Many years ago, liberals were champions of limited government, free trade and free markets, whereas Tories advocated market intervention, trade protectionism and so forth. Over time, liberals became supporters of a greater role for government in regulating the economy, with more intervention and government allocating many resources such as health and education. Tories apposed them, urging less government intervention in the economy, greater privacy for the individual and support for capitalism. Now, liberals and tories alike believe government has a large role to play in the economy, and even David Cameron has promised to match the Labour party's recent spending. I suppose a Tory now is someone who advocates a less "top-down" management of government and state organisations, and on average espouses socially conservative views on the family, marriage and soceity.

[clusterfield]

Originally Posted by longtimetory

Comparison with others can help define thus

LABOUR seeks to pull down wealth; CONSERVATIVES seek to raise people from poverty
LABOUR seeks to destroy private interests; CONSERVATIVES seek to reconcile private interests with public rights
LABOUR seeks to control enterprise; CONSERVATIVES seek to free enterprise
LABOUR exalt the rule; CONSERVATIVES exalt the man
LABOUR attacks capital; CONSERVATIVES attack monopoly

(With thanks to WSC)

This sums it up well.

For me Conservatism is being in touch with human nature, not against it. You will never change it, so socialist attempts to do so are a waste of time.

[padnar]

Originally Posted by defender

So, in theory, if you had to explain to someone who had just woke up from a 1000 year coma, how would you explain what a tory really is in this day and age?

.
sorry as a writer and a journalist i feel it will be nice if I know something about politics in England . from reading these posts I find they are three parties , Labour, conserative and Tory . I think England has a multi party systen like India . Are these parties in the forefront ? Pl can anyone throw a light on this issue?
padma

[peterf]

Originally Posted by padnar

.
sorry as a writer and a journalist i feel it will be nice if I know something about politics in England . from reading these posts I find they are three parties , Labour, conserative and Tory . I think England has a multi party systen like India . Are these parties in the forefront ? Pl can anyone throw a light on this issue?
padma

Good morning Padma.

The two biggest parties in the UK are the Larbour Party (which includes Marxists, socialists and social democrats) and the Conservatives (sometimes called the Tories as a sort of nick name). A long way behind them are the Liberal Democrats - what they believe is one of life's mysteries but it is safe to say it depends on to whom they are talking.

The Scottish National party is now the largest in Scotland and the Welsh Nats are important in Wales. In Northern Ireland there are four quite different parties.

The Conservatives do not believe in socialism. They are for private enterprise. And believe in a smaller state and lower taxes.

There will be lots of web sites which will tell you much, much more. Any specific questions?