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Compassionate conservatism
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<p>Compassionate conservatism is an American <a href="/facts/Political_philosophy/JuLBNdAX">political philosophy</a> that stresses using <a href="/facts/Conservatism_in_the_United_States/ye90yMMJ">conservative</a> techniques and concepts in order to improve the general welfare of society. The philosophy supports the implementation of policies designed to help the disadvantaged and alleviate poverty through the <a href="/facts/Free_market/KnK7JohY">free market</a>, envisaging a triangular relationship between government, charities and faith-based organizations. The term entered mainstream parlance between 2001 and 2009, during the administration of US President <a href="/facts/George_W._Bush/mYSgM515">George W. Bush</a>. He used the term often to describe his personal views and embody some parts of his administration's agenda and policy approach. </p><p>The term itself is often credited to the American historian and politician <a href="/facts/Doug_Wead/3LaG5W84">Doug Wead</a>, who used it as the title of a speech in 1979. Although its origins lie mostly in accepted economic principles, some applications of it have been criticized as <a href="/facts/Paternalism/QuGtQF9n">paternalism</a>. The term has been used in the United Kingdom by former Prime Minister <a href="/facts/David_Cameron/0y643wQf">David Cameron</a>, in <a href="/facts/New_Zealand/4mpSlJdg">New Zealand</a> by former <a href="/facts/Prime_Minister_of_New_Zealand/qsTgpc9s">Prime Minister</a> <a href="/facts/John_Key/21AusLrE">John Key</a>, and in <a href="/facts/Lithuania/dApVjLWW">Lithuania</a> by President <a href="/facts/Gitanas_Naus%C4%97da/oAW9KtEE">Gitanas Nausėda</a>. </p><p>The term "compassionate conservatism" has also been applied to <a href="/facts/Christian_democracy/If75WCac">Christian democratic</a> political parties. However, Christian democrats are far more supportive of government <a href="/facts/Economic_interventionism/ogcBsRWI">interventionism</a> in the economy. </p>