Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.
— Frank Wilhoit
Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.
— Frank Wilhoit
I read a book called The Reactionary Mind, by Robin.
It’s thesis was that if you survey Western conservative writings from the French Revolution to today, the only consistent value is hierarchy. God, guns, small government, capitalism, and traditional family values may all be jettisoned, but never hierarchy.
I’ll point out that this week, Trump pitted gun rights vs. enforcement of the out-group and the American Right shuddered.
The same argument, from the opposite side, is made by Bob Altmeyer in “The Authoritarians”: there is a psychological profile defined by a desire to be, and have everyone else be, a cog in the machine - the purpose of which is entirely irrelevant.
Shuddered then fell into line.