What does conservatism mean? Fewer taxes & regulations or preserving traditional values and communities? A Republican county in Tennessee faces this question when farmers go against land developers

See After a Mayor’s Mysterious Death, a Land Dispute Divides Republicans in Tennessee: A development battle is splitting a deep-red county over what it means to be conservative by Cameron McWhirter of The WSJ. Excerpts: 

"County officials [Coffee County in Tennessee] are pushing hard to limit development across the area’s vast farmlands. In March, the county imposed a three-month moratorium on all large subdivision projects in areas zoned for agriculture. After that ended, officials passed an ordinance ruling that property owners in agricultural areas could only sell land in a minimum of 5-acre-lot increments, effectively halting large subdivisions in those areas. 

On one side: the county’s multigenerational farmers and those seeking to preserve a community where rolled bales of hay still dot open fields. On the other side: developers, builders and real-estate brokers who believe the area is primed for tremendous growth."

"Planning commission meetings, typically mundane affairs where leaders wear jeans and work boots, now draw heated crowds and viewers on streaming. 

In a county where everyone knows everyone else, tensions have strained relations at church, school and shopping centers.

The feud reveals the complexity of modern Republican politics in a place where Donald Trump won 75% of the vote in 2024. Both sides invoke conservative principles. An anti-moratorium sign at a local meeting read: “Vote like a conservative! Less government. Less rules. Less regulations. Lower taxes.”

A pro-moratorium group responded in a post that, “Historically, conservatism has emphasized order, prudence, stewardship, and a deep respect for heritage…It’s about preserving traditional values and communities—not selling them off for short-term gain.”"

"Supporters of the commission’s moves included farmers Jones and Mike Bryan. They had long worried about growth, but became active only after learning about Graham’s project, which they said would overwhelm the area’s infrastructure and roads, impinging on their ability to farm." 

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See also Americans start caring more about deficits and the national debt when the party they oppose runs them up by John V. Kane of New York University and Ian G. Anson of The University of Maryland. Excerpt:

"In the past two decades, US budget deficits have skyrocketed, and the national debt is now over $22 trillion. But do Americans care about the size of deficits and the national debt? In new research, John V. Kane and Ian G. Anson find that people tend to care more about the deficits and debts when they are increased by presidents from the party that they oppose. Both Republicans and Democrats, they write, become less concerned about governments running deficits when their President is in charge."