Originally posted by shdnesslingI dont believe they do! Its just a big leap in a different direction - carrer wise.
I've heard it alleged...
I'm not sure that being a wine critic and believing that "the preservation of a pre-existing social order" is the essence of conservatism necessarily contradict each other.
You could do much worse.
However, I must take issue with his assertion, "American intellectual life benefits from American patriotism, which has made it possible to defend American customs and institutions without fear of being laughed to scorn. It has benefited too from the Cold War, which sharpened native wits against the Marxist enemy, in a way that they were never sharpened in Europe." http://www.newcriterion.com/archive/21/feb03/burke.htm
American patriotism, especially the patriotism of the Cold War did not sharpen our wits. Rather, it contributed to the rapid decline of philosophy in our schools, and to the lack of rigor in ours thinking. Moreover, although, as in Britain, conservatism seemed dead in the 1960s, it seemed so from an entirely different point-of-view. In America, conservatism appeared dead in American politics in 1964 when the Republicans nominated Barry Goldwater because they had no hope of winning the election. By 1980, it had become all too clear how wrong the prophets of the death of conservatism had been. In a similar manner, back in the 1960s, American institutions of higher education were terribly conservative (Marxists may have run a few colleges in Britain, but they were run out of nearly all colleges in America). Despite the conservative slant of their colleges, the American people viewed these colleges as hotbeds of liberalism and breeding grounds for radicalism. The American people long have been anti-intellectual, and distrusting af academics. If Scruton had spent any time in the streets of America, instead of only in our libraries, he would have received an entirely different education.
Originally posted by WulebgrDidn't the fear of a cold war and communism sharpen the American people, and this combined fear lead to patriotism against the common enemy?
You could do much worse.
However, I must take issue with his assertion, "American intellectual life benefits from American patriotism, which has made it possible to defend American customs and institutions without fear of being laughed to scorn. It has benefited too from the Cold War, which sharpened native wits against the Marxist enemy, in a way that t ...[text shortened]... erica, instead of only in our libraries, he would have received an entirely different education.
Not a bad point, all in all, though to play devil's advocate, it could be argued that in some fields the searching out of the "Marxist threat" will have provided a new form of intellectual stimulus.
As a secondary point, without trying to be too facetious, it could be suggested that McCarthyism allowed for a new variety of imaginativeness - it certainly required creativity at times...
Originally posted by Silver SlayerI quite like consvative theory: small government, individuals taking responsibility, low tax, one proud nation standing together.
Whilst studying politics I've come to the conclusion I am a consevative. I find in particular I agree with every thing the conservative writer Roger Scruton says.
Any comments?1
...and no I'm not a fascist!
But it reality the tories are t*ssers!
I must say that I agree. I only had one course in politics but Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocville (I probably mangled the spelling) was a most influential book (and very dry). The real treat was just having other people to argue with who didn't take everything as a personal affront.
Bonus points to whoever can tell me who said this (I heard it on NPR - I believe it was a senator)
"Pork is anything north of the Mason-Dixon line."