Conservative Minds

Von Mises argues that the created wealth of our time can be traced back to classical liberal/capitalist institutions. Even writing in 1927, he noted how the standard of living had risen far above that which just a few generations ago was possible only to the rich and privileged. He evaluates the collectivist ideologies of the Right and Left and finds them inferior to private ownership of property and a free market.

Hazony argues that, for centuries, Western nations have been characterized by a struggle between two antithetical visions of world order: nationalism and imperialism. Nationalism, for him, involves nations that are able to chart their own independent course by cultivating their own traditions and pursuing their own interests without interference. In contrast, imperialism involves peoples united under a single regime of law and maintained by a single supranational authority. He argues that nationalism, built on mutual human loyalty to family and tribe, represents the true foundation of political order. No universal ideology - not Christianity, liberalism, Marxism - has succeeded in eliminating the intense human desire to protect and strengthen the tribe.

This episode we take stock of what we learned about conservative thought from our Season 2 books.

Barnett believes that American citizens of today have not truly consented to be governed. As a result, the Constitution must provide sufficient procedural assurances to protect rights. Indeed, the protection of rights is the only function that justifies restricting personal freedom. He also argues that erroneous Supreme Court precedent has granted plenary power to Congress to regulate in contradiction to the plain reading of the Constitution. The upshot is a weakened state and local governing structure, whereby the people must look to Washington, D.C. for all laws and regulations.

For Michael Oakeshott, conservatism is not a creed or a doctrine but a disposition of contentment. A conservative prefers the familiar to the unknown and the tried to the untried. It is a propensity to use and enjoy what is available, rather than to wish for something other than what you have. Oakeshott posits a minimalist role for government that allows people to live their lives as they see fit.

The Federalist Papers are 85 letters written under the pen name “Publius”. Publius was the joint creation of Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. Originally intended as an attempt to influence the people of New York to ratify the new Constitution, the Federalist Papers came to be the best contemporary explanation of that document by men who had an outsized role in drafting it. These essays explain the ideas behind the Constitution and the reasoning that led to the choices made in the convention of 1787. Thomas Jefferson would later call it "the best commentary on the principles of government which ever was written."

Brooks uses ficticious characters as a vehicle to convey social science research and share his reformicon political philosophy. He focuses on preparing people for jobs in the technology economy.

Carlson tells us the story of the evolution of the modern family. It has gone from a bedrock assumption shared throughout human history to an institution under seige. Carlson walks us through the challenges and maps the ground shifting underneath the family. He sees industrialization as the most prominent destabilizing factor.

Bloom warns about the moral relativism capturing the American academe. He calls out this movement toward 'openness' as a harmful force that paradoxically has resulted in 'closing' the minds of the students. He sees openness as a broadside attack on tradition and common culture. American history and intellectual heritage have been forcibly removed from school curriculum in favor of ethnic and identity studies.

Douthat and Salam propose a new vision of modern conservatism that is ideologically principled but poltically pragmatic. They want a policy agenda for working class swing-voters - what they label the 'Sam's Club Republicans.' These are non-college voters who make up roughly half the U.S. electorate. The authors propose a platform of limited govt and strong cultural solidarity, in which the goods of our national life are distributed as widely and equitably as possible.

Voter Study Group liberal-conservative index: https://www.voterstudygroup.org/publication/political-divisions-in-2016-and-beyond

Hidden Tribes voter survey: https://hiddentribes.us/pdf/hidden_tribes_report.pdf