The challenge of conservatism
Charles Kesler, Professor of Government at Cleremont McKenna College, has a very thoughtful essay in the new issue of The Claremont Review. Kesler looks at the recent history of conservatism including George W. Bush's attempt to, in David Frum's words, to combine the right's favorite noun (conservatism) with the left's favorite adjective (compassionate):
"In a time of unprecedented prosperity (1999-2000), Bush wanted to invoke a sense of national purpose loftier than material well-being,and so he tried to connect the two kinds of conservatives by asking what was prosperity's point. 'The purpose of prosperity,' he said many times, 'is to make sure the American dream touches every willing heart. The purpose of prosperity is to leave no one out...to leave no one behind.' What he meant was that the American dream consisted both of making a good living and making a good life, and therefore that prosperity should be a means to the ends of good character. Although compassion was not the only quality that he recommended to his fellow"citizens of character," it was the leading element in his ideal. Compassion is a noble calling, he said—not an easy virtue."
I would add that Bush forgot that in Washington, D.C. "compassion" is simply another word for "money" or "program." Compassion is defined by politicians as the amount of money that can be extracted from taxpayers in the name of a social ill.
Kesler even touches on health care reform in an effort to explain big government liberalism:
"To overcome the contradictions of Big Government, liberals cheerfully offer Bigger Government. Consider the present case. Medicare and Medicaid are going broke. Doctor Obama prescribes a brand new,expensive health care program, which the Democrats cannot figure out how to fund, to cure the ills of the existing system. A third deficit-laden program to save two already verging on bankruptcy? The reality is that massive middle-class tax increases lie just over the horizon, along with draconian cuts in benefits, which will come partly disguised by long waiting lists, rationing of care, and shrinking investment in new drugs and technologies. Obama is betting that the socialist ethic of solidarity, of shared pain, can be made to prevail over democratic outrage at broken promises, shoddy services, and diminished liberty."
Well worth the read here.
"In a time of unprecedented prosperity (1999-2000), Bush wanted to invoke a sense of national purpose loftier than material well-being,and so he tried to connect the two kinds of conservatives by asking what was prosperity's point. 'The purpose of prosperity,' he said many times, 'is to make sure the American dream touches every willing heart. The purpose of prosperity is to leave no one out...to leave no one behind.' What he meant was that the American dream consisted both of making a good living and making a good life, and therefore that prosperity should be a means to the ends of good character. Although compassion was not the only quality that he recommended to his fellow"citizens of character," it was the leading element in his ideal. Compassion is a noble calling, he said—not an easy virtue."
I would add that Bush forgot that in Washington, D.C. "compassion" is simply another word for "money" or "program." Compassion is defined by politicians as the amount of money that can be extracted from taxpayers in the name of a social ill.
Kesler even touches on health care reform in an effort to explain big government liberalism:
"To overcome the contradictions of Big Government, liberals cheerfully offer Bigger Government. Consider the present case. Medicare and Medicaid are going broke. Doctor Obama prescribes a brand new,expensive health care program, which the Democrats cannot figure out how to fund, to cure the ills of the existing system. A third deficit-laden program to save two already verging on bankruptcy? The reality is that massive middle-class tax increases lie just over the horizon, along with draconian cuts in benefits, which will come partly disguised by long waiting lists, rationing of care, and shrinking investment in new drugs and technologies. Obama is betting that the socialist ethic of solidarity, of shared pain, can be made to prevail over democratic outrage at broken promises, shoddy services, and diminished liberty."
Well worth the read here.
Brilliant. Don't just read it, study it.
Thanks for posting this, Kurt.
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