John Holbo, reading Dead Right by David Frum, captures - at length - some of what makes contemporary "conservatism" seem so odd (emphasis in what follows mine).
" Frum cleaves to a radically elitist conception according to which, ideally, a narrowly-conceived set of social and cultural ideals are imposed on a potentially recalcitrant and resistant population. Why? Because he has the philosophical clarity of mind to see that the alternative is unthinkably terrible: a radically elitist conception according to which, ideally, a narrowly-conceived set of social and cultural ideals are imposed on a potentially recalcitrant and resistant population. ... " Frum has written a book about the need for a reflective, conservative philosophy. And: that’s the one thing he hasn't got. He just has no clue why he is a conservative, or why being one might be a good idea – or even what 'conservatism' ought to mean. "
Even more to the point, Mr Holbo writes that Frum implicitly suggests that "conservative" philosophy is:
" an illicit feeling ... that economics is, magically, a function not so much of social or cultural arrangements as aesthetic ones. ... : if only we achieve aesthetic satisfaction here, economics will take care of itself. "
The same could surely be written about contemporary "liberalism" and liberals. However, the aesthetes appear to have taken over the Republican party, while the Democrats have largely passed theirs over to the Greens. Can we please get back to thinking about the future - which we will wind up in sooner or later, whether we will or no - instead of this persistent imagining that the past will ever catch up?
Posted by Martial