I am a very convinced grassroots conservative. I am a member of the Conservative Party in the UK, and I'm also a member of an Estonian conservative party called Pro Patria and Res Publica Union.

In global arena, I support the conservative, right-wing, freedom-minded political parties, like GOP in the USA, Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Germany, Likud in Israel, Partido Popular in Spain, etc.

What is Conservativism?

• Traditional morals and values.
• Liberty, and defending it at all costs. Not only ours, but if needed, then others’, too.
• Small government.
• Low taxes.
• Minimal Government interference.
• Free market. Private enterprises.
• Working instead of benefits.

If you believe in these core issues, you’re a Conservative.

My political manifesto

I am a Thatcherite Conservative. Not only I believe that Margaret Thatcher was one of the strongest, most efficient and one of the best leaders of a country in entire history, I have always shared her beliefs about how states and governments must operate.

Economy

I strongly believe in free market economy and an economy based on private enterprises. It’s the companies and businesses that produce value through employing people and the market must be let to function on its own path, according to its own natural rules. It is not the state’s affair to buy out companies in trouble nor own decisive shares in enterprises. Market evolves on its own and all the state has to do is provide laws and regulations how businesses should operate to produce the most value to the economy – by employment, and by taxes.

I strongly believe that when one is hungry, one should be given a fishing rod, not fish. Work is the only acceptable option to improve one’s wellbeing. It’s essential that people work for living, not gain it in form of different benefits from the Government. If people work for living, they produce value for themselves and for the economy, if people live off benefits, they are living off others’ expense, and thus contributing to higher taxes which the workforce have to pay. And if you live off someone else’s expense, this money is essentially going to run out.

Low taxes are the key of supporting the workforce and the companies. I strongly believe in low income tax for businesses and individuals, and I very strongly believe in flat rate income tax. If people who earn more pay more income tax percentage-wise, it’s a harsh punishment for being more successful. Taxation policy should encourage people to become more successful and earn more, not punish people for doing so.

People

In my opinion, state interference in people’s lives should be as minimal as possible, but nevertheless be based on traditional morals and values. I support traditional marriage and families – and while I don’t have any problems with same sex couples living together and doing whatever they want in private, I think that the sanctity of marriage must be kept, thus marriage being only a union between a man and a woman. For same sex couples there are other options how to address their property and inheritance issues – like contracts and wills, for example.

Life is sacred. Even unborn life. Abortion must not be regarded as a contraceptive. While I am not advocating outlawing abortion entirely, I think that people should be educated in the fact that an unborn baby is life, and abortion is murder. It’s not about women being the masters of their bodies, because it’s not their life they are taking with abortion. There are numerous ways for avoiding pregnancy. Abortion should be allowed only in extreme circumstances, and definitely not because one decides one doesn’t want a baby after impregnation. That decision must be taken before.

Naturally, even with minimal state interference in people’s lives, there have to be laws and regulations that keep the people safe from those who want to harm them. Crime has to be addressed at with sincere seriousness and criminals must be punished to the extent of their crimes. Criminals have to pay a price for their crimes, however, I do not support capital punishment, because dying is the easiest thing to do and therefore isn’t a punitive measure.

I am not anti-immigration. But I believe that people who come to live in a foreign country must integrate to the society, while, if they wish, keeping their national roots. I’m all for religious and cultural freedom, but I strongly believe that people coming to a foreign country must speak the language of the country and obey the laws of that country. Every country should have a strong and enforced language policy – if one lives in the United Kingdom, one speaks English, one must be served in English and one can’t demand to be served in anything else but English. And one must also be able to demand speaking English from one’s customers.

I am not anti-European Union, but I believe it must be a union of independent nations with independent governments, not a federalist state with a body in Brussels that make idiotic decisions that affect lives of millions. I believe that all the citizens of European Union must have a say in matters that affect their lives, like the Lisbon Treaty or any other attempt to produce a constitution to the union that strips people from their rights. European Union can exist as a free market, based on free countries that make their own decisions.

Freedom

I believe that all people are created free and equal. And this freedom, this liberty, needs a strong defence. We must defend out liberty at any cost, and that doesn’t mean only personal liberty, but liberty of nations. The free world must help the nations struggling for freedom of tyranny, like we helped Iraq and Afghanistan, and like we should do now in Iran’s case. When nations under the oppression of tyranny begin to demand freedom, it’s our obligation to help them to gain it. We take our freedom too lightly and even for granted – luxury that people under oppression can’t have. It’s our obligation to provide them with that luxury.

Traditions are not good because they’re old, but they’re old because they’re good. Historical experience is extremely important, because it has survived in time, proved to be efficient, and be counted on. There is no need to “mend” things that work efficiently. On the other hand, we must learn from the traditions and if needed, make untraditional decisions based on what we have learnt from the experience.