In politics, conservative means keeping the status quo. This largely describes the current mainstream Democratic party. You're right, Republicans are not trying

In politics, conservative means keeping the status quo. This largely describes the current mainstream Democratic party. You're right, Republicans are not trying to keep the status quo. Going back to an older culture is "reactionary". Current mainstream Republicans can be described in this way. Personal discipline, thoughtfulness, caution, integrity, wisdom, learning from the past, etc. are not necessarily features of one ideology or another.