<p>That doesn't even make sense. The fact of the matter is, many of the most influential movers and shakers in society are people who are conservatives in the economic and political sense, not the social sense. I feel as though the word "conservative" has been hijacked by the image projected by the knee-jerk, reactionary religious right. I'm a fan of small government, individual enterprise, and the spread of institutions of freedom; where in my self-described conservatism do you find things like racism, sexism, or homophobia?</p>
<p>Case in point - Bill Gates is the head of one of the most influential organizations to fight poverty, hunger, and disease in the developing world today. Microsoft has policies forbidding employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, race, or sex. At various times the company has even come out and supported equal rights legislation for gays. At the same time, do you really think Mr. Gates wants a large, inefficient federal government to hamper the competition and innovation of the free market?</p>