In view of the state of current American politics, my intention in this post is to take an additional look at conservatism, particularly because Trumpism, to use a vague and inelegant term for the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, is usually discussed as a form of conservatism.
That's the key question, though I don't think the party of Trump will revert to the party of Reagan for a long time. As I've said for years, the infrastructure of cable tv, talk radio, and the internet has become too embedded in our political and social landscape to be removed or transcended easily. And of course the Democrats continue to illustrate the old Will Rogers line: "Are you a member of a political party?" "No, I'm not a member of any organized political party—I'm a Democrat."
I like very much your quotation of Burke. It reminded me of a book by Stewart Brand (The clock of the long Now) in which we find this, which , I think, is an intelligent defense of (intelligent) conservatism: "The accumulated past is life's best resource for innovation. Revolutions cut off the past. Evolution shamelessly, lazily repurposes the past. Reinventing beats inventing nearly every time." By the way, here in Canada (your future 51st state) , the alternative to the Liberals was the Progressive-conservative party (sic). Unfortunately, it's been taken over by right-wing radicals and it is now simply the Conservative party.
By way of follow-up, take a look at an interesting column by Jonah Goldberg published in the May 12, 2025 issue of thedispatch.com titled "Don't Call This Conservatism." At greater length, it raises some of the issues I discussed here.
"Burn it all down" is a motivating rally cry as one stands at the town square with pitchfork and torch, frothing at the mouth. Or in an online chat with other like-minded radicals. It's the prevailing sentiment among 50% of Americans, and how Trump got re-elected.
However, my blue sky naïveté leads me to believe that sanity will prevail, and after 1-2 years of increased chaos from the incoming administration, enough people will realize that our institutions are strong and should not be dismantled. We should not appoint arsonists whose goal is to destroy government departments rather than improve them. Our system needs a tuneup, not a complete overhaul.
👍should be interesting to see where the Republican Party winds up in the next two years. Will they return to their conservative routes, or will they simply blow up our institutions as MAGA suggests?!
Absolutely, Dennis. There's nothing conservative about Trump or MAGA. Unless it's a nod to socially conservative values -- setting back women's rights, the progress of civil rights/minorities, elevating the role of religion in culture and government, etc.? Thanks!
That's the key question, though I don't think the party of Trump will revert to the party of Reagan for a long time. As I've said for years, the infrastructure of cable tv, talk radio, and the internet has become too embedded in our political and social landscape to be removed or transcended easily. And of course the Democrats continue to illustrate the old Will Rogers line: "Are you a member of a political party?" "No, I'm not a member of any organized political party—I'm a Democrat."
I like very much your quotation of Burke. It reminded me of a book by Stewart Brand (The clock of the long Now) in which we find this, which , I think, is an intelligent defense of (intelligent) conservatism: "The accumulated past is life's best resource for innovation. Revolutions cut off the past. Evolution shamelessly, lazily repurposes the past. Reinventing beats inventing nearly every time." By the way, here in Canada (your future 51st state) , the alternative to the Liberals was the Progressive-conservative party (sic). Unfortunately, it's been taken over by right-wing radicals and it is now simply the Conservative party.
By way of follow-up, take a look at an interesting column by Jonah Goldberg published in the May 12, 2025 issue of thedispatch.com titled "Don't Call This Conservatism." At greater length, it raises some of the issues I discussed here.
"Burn it all down" is a motivating rally cry as one stands at the town square with pitchfork and torch, frothing at the mouth. Or in an online chat with other like-minded radicals. It's the prevailing sentiment among 50% of Americans, and how Trump got re-elected.
However, my blue sky naïveté leads me to believe that sanity will prevail, and after 1-2 years of increased chaos from the incoming administration, enough people will realize that our institutions are strong and should not be dismantled. We should not appoint arsonists whose goal is to destroy government departments rather than improve them. Our system needs a tuneup, not a complete overhaul.
👍should be interesting to see where the Republican Party winds up in the next two years. Will they return to their conservative routes, or will they simply blow up our institutions as MAGA suggests?!
Absolutely, Dennis. There's nothing conservative about Trump or MAGA. Unless it's a nod to socially conservative values -- setting back women's rights, the progress of civil rights/minorities, elevating the role of religion in culture and government, etc.? Thanks!
Great analysis. I do not think enough voters appreciate the risks we are facing.