What Does "Conservative" Mean?

[ICantSpellDawg]

Conservatism is inherently reactionary, and dependent on there being call for change and what the perceived status quo is. There cannot be a universal conservatism, since the things it depends upon can vary immensely. Islam, the Soviet Union, the US - all have or had their brands of conservatism.

And it is indeed misappropriated far too often, using the banner of conservatism in some form or another to promote extensive change to a former situation which has never actually previously existed. Islamism is an example of that, as is what is promoted in the US by a significant number of politicians calling themselves conservatives.

What if the "status quo" changes? To say that the definition of conservatives is that they support the status quo is ludicrous. The status quo of Abortion has changed, yet most conservatives oppose this. The status quo of homosexual acceptance has too, yet many conservatives oppose this. Many "status quo's" have been established long before most conservatives that I know were even born - yet are strongly opposed by conservatives.

"Reactionary" is a pejorative, usually used by "progressives" (or revolutionaries/radicals, if you want to start using pejoratives).