No. No it cannot. Here’s why.
It is one of the great canards of American politics that leftists have gotten tarred as “utopian” dreamers. In conservatives’ hands, progressives and liberals alike are cowards who cannot make their own way in life and thus look to government to protect them from tragedy. These latter are weak-kneed social dependents who believe that conflict … Continue reading
Here’s a gem from the American Right today: Mike Huckabee urging a conservative crowd to let the air out of their opponents’ car tires and otherwise try to prevent them from voting: Don’t vote alone. Vote with someone—family, friends, relatives, people you work with. Make a list. Make a list of 10 family members, 10 … Continue reading
“Without strong movements to arouse and mobilize grievances at the grassroots, elite reformers stood naked before their stand-pat adversaries. Yet, without the aid of insiders able to speak to a national constituency and work the levers of government, movements withered away or became impotent, bitter shells. Legitimacy of this sort carries a price, of course. … Continue reading
Everyone knows Jon Huntsman’s “weaknesses” as a candidate in the GOP primaries. He wants to leave climate change science to climate change scientists…and he accepts the overwhelming consensus that humans are contributing to it. He’s reasonable on social questions—he supports civil unions for same-sex couples. He worked for Obama. What is he? Disloyal to his … Continue reading
Hey! Hey you! Business guy! Tired of burdensome federal regulations and meddling bureaucrats? Tired of getting undersold by cheap foreign competitors? Looking for a way to cut costs to compete with the developing world? Have I got a deal for YOU! Hey! Hey you! Stockholder! Interested in some higher rates of return? More dividends? You’d … Continue reading
Andrew Sullivan posted a great piece last Friday on what conservatism actually means in terms of institutional stability, democratic government, and more. It’s short, and well worth the read. There’s a lot of Oakeshott running beneath it: Conservatives are respectful of these anti-democratic institutions because conservatives are concerned about excessive democracy which can trample on … Continue reading
I’ve been doing more research since my post on political perception. The blogosphere is a crazy place. Take a few examples: • Gen-Y Patriots on why new passport applications are a sign of the “Nazification of America” • Hillary Clinton supporters at Hillary Is 44 on why Donald Trump was a victim of Obama-protecting “Big … Continue reading
Compare. Newt Gingrich, on Saturday: “I’m here to tell you that if you don’t start with values and you don’t start by establishing who we are as Americans, the rest of it doesn’t matter. Life is not just about money.” Democracy, A Journal (No. 20, Spring 11, p. 8): “No debate is more fundamental in … Continue reading
Over the weekend I posted some “provisional thoughts” on progressivism’s foundations. Since the post garnered a good deal of interest, I’m posting a piece that I wrote about six months after President Obama’s inauguration (substantial pieces of this essay later became essays at Front Porch Republic and at Dissent). Since the piece is pre-midterms, a … Continue reading
