Joseph O. Patton: Helping conservatives be conservatives

  I am deeply concerned about my conservative friends, neighbors and the like. I'm convinced if you're gonna adhere to a set of values, employ those values at the ballot box, to influence your fellow Americans in letters to the editor and to lobby your elected officials, you should at least be true to your word and not contradict yourself with every breath. So in a heartfelt effort to be the helpful type I aspire to be, I've compiled this checklist of sorts. Perhaps it can be of assistance to those who claim to be conservative but only talk the talk....

  Stop claiming you want the government out of your life while simultaneously lobbying your elected officials to pass laws that would infringe on a women's reproductive rights, outlaw same-sex marriage and curb legal gambling.