# Narrator — The Conscience of a Conservative character guide > Narrator in The Conscience of a Conservative by Barry Goldwater. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Unknown, Our, ourselves, our, freedom—we, ours, mine, Mine **First appearance:** 0001-the-conscience-of-a-conservative ## Who they are An unnamed conservative who refuses to apologize for his convictions, insisting that freedom, not economics, is the beating heart of the political philosophy he defends. ## Relationships ### [The Kremlin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/characters/the_kremlin) _rivalry_ The narrator views the Kremlin as the central antagonist and embodiment of Soviet tyranny. ### [Conservatives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/characters/conservatives) _friendship_ The narrator aligns with conservatives as natural allies in the fight against collectivism. ### [Candidate X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/characters/candidate_x) _professional_ Candidate X is a political figure the narrator analyzes and critiques as a flawed conservative standard-bearer. ### [Most Americans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/characters/most_americans) _friendship_ The narrator sees most Americans as the virtuous populace whose conscience he aims to represent. ### [The Communists](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/characters/the_communists) _rivalry_ The narrator treats communists as a direct ideological enemy to be exposed and defeated. ### [Big Labor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/characters/big_labor) _rivalry_ The narrator portrays Big Labor as a coercive, anti-freedom force opposing conservative principles. ### [Congress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/characters/congress) _rivalry_ The narrator criticizes Congress for failing to uphold constitutional limits and conservative values. ### [The States](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/characters/the_states) _friendship_ The narrator champions states' rights as a bulwark against federal overreach. ### [The True Conservative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/characters/the_true_conservative) _friendship_ The narrator identifies with the True Conservative as the ideal embodiment of his own philosophy. ### [The States](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/characters/the_states) _friendship_ The narrator champions states' rights as a bulwark against federal overreach. ## In the story ### [The Conscience of a Conservative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/chapters/the-conscience-of-a-conservative) The authorial voice presenting the conservative philosophy and critique of modern politics. ### [The Conscience of a Conservative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/chapters/i-the-conscience-of-a-conservative) The narrator presents the conservative viewpoint, distinguishing it from liberal and Republican apologetics. ### [II: The Perils of Power](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/chapters/ii-the-perils-of-power) The narrator presents a conservative critique of federal overreach and advocates for constitutional restraint. ### [III: States’ Rights](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/chapters/iii-states-rights) Argues for a strict interpretation of the Tenth Amendment and criticizes both parties for abandoning States' Rights. ### [IV: And Civil Rights](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/chapters/iv-and-civil-rights) Argues against federal intervention in education and critiques the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment. ### [Freedom for the Farmer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/chapters/v-freedom-for-the-farmer) The narrator presents the argument against federal farm subsidies and price supports, citing constitutional principles and economic consequences. ### [Freedom for Labor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/chapters/vi-freedom-for-labor) Argues for voluntary unionism and criticizes the concentration of power in union leadership. ### [VII: Taxes and Spending](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/chapters/vii-taxes-and-spending) Presents the argument that taxation is a moral issue tied to property rights and individual freedom, and criticizes both parties for failing to reduce spending. ### [VIII: The Welfare State](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/chapters/viii-the-welfare-state) The narrator presents the conservative critique of the Welfare State, arguing against federal intervention and for private charity. ### [IX: Some Notes on Education](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/chapters/ix-some-notes-on-education) Presents the argument against federal aid to education and critiques progressive education. ### [X: The Soviet Menace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/chapters/x-the-soviet-menace) Argues against foreign aid as unconstitutional and ineffective, and outlines a comprehensive Cold War strategy. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/chapters/endnotes) The narrator provides commentary and data in the endnotes. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/characters/narrator - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/characters