Me, Myself and I: For those of you who don't live in the Twin Cities, the metro area has dealt with a transit strike for the last few weeks. Last night I was talking to a friend of mine who tends to be more conservative than I am. He was thankful that the strike allowed him to drive down one of the busy thoroughfare free of buses. My ex-boyfriend and best friend commented later in my car that this other guy seems to focus only on his ease of driving, but forgets those who are affected by the strike. I was thinking about how my friend's view of being able to drive with ease has become the general view among conservatives these days. When you think about it, the prevailing theme among some leaders is focused on the self to the extent that anyone else does not exist. One thing I like about conservatism is the focus on individual rights. We are unique persons and society must re! spect our differences. But this indivualism has become some what corrosive. We are unique people, but we live in a society and must have some concern for others because their concerns utilmately affect us. We are indivuals, but as the saying goes, no man is an island.
As a Christian, I believe that we are to live a life for others. I tend to reconcile my belief in indivual rights and communitarian concerns by thinking of a mosaic. If you look at a mosiac up close you see that it is made up of individual squares that are all unique. As you pull back, these squares make up a giant picture. We are individuals, not part of some Borg-like collective. However, the best way we can use our uniqueness is by cooperating with others who are also different. I don't think there is anything socialist about this. The father of conservatism himself, Edmund Burke, talked about the fact that our "little pontoons" (family or self) must be strong in order to make the rest of society strong.
The political scientist in me wants to write something on "Civic Republicanism." Maybe there will be a long treatise coming soon.
Tapas-eating Surrender Monkeys: I think it's pretty rude to call a nation who is in the process of mourning its dead cowards. The neocons think that just because the Spanish voted for the Socialists instead of the incumbent conservatives, Spain is appeasing terror. Yeah, right. I guess they missed those large demonstration of millions around Spain protesting terrorism. This is a nation that has dealt with fascism and then with a bunch of Marxist guerillas that have terroized Spain for 35 years. I think they know a thing or two on how to deal with terrorism and I don't think one of the options is to cower. For more on this, read Julian Sanchez's story in Reason. He's behind that great title.
New Dems meet Teddy Roosevelt: The New Republic has an interesting article about how Democrats should be harnessing the new economy with some old fashioned government intervention. It's a nice change to see Democrats talking with a fresh pro-business bent that sees government as a partner to encourage the free market. Funny thing is what is being considered Democratic now was being trumpted by Teddy Roosevelt about 100 years ago.
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Posted by: illusions d optique at October 6, 2005 08:41 AMI randomly stumbled upon this blog and I must say it is very refreshing. I am a leftist but I can't find a political party I agree with or trust. Even if I don't agree with everything you are saying, I really respect that fact that you are engaging in open thoughtful discussions about what the roots of our problems may be and how we can all work together to solve them. One of the worst things I think the Bush administration has done to this country is to divide it so carelessly (Or maybe it was planned in small meetings behind closed doors, who knows really). It's an Us vs. Them atmosphere in a time when more then ever we need to be working together and studying the ideas of our founding fathers that you have mentioned. Their are wackos on either side of the political spectrum and I hope we can find a balance that will accomodate all people and not destroy our beautiful world!
Just some thoughts... thanks for yours,
Lydia White
Dennis,
It is interesting that what is considered Democratic now is what Teddy Roosevelt pushed 100 years ago. I've been thinking for some time now that we are in the midst of another shift similar to the shift Roosevelt made.
Used to be that Republicans were the party of Liberals - from Lincoln on up to Roosevelt. Roosevelt changed that, and Republicans from Roosevelt on have been the Conservatives.
Now we're living in an era when Bush Jr. is redefining Republicans again... and the definitions of Liberal and Conservative are changing again.
It kills me to hear neocons spouting off about Liberals as if being Liberal was a dirty thing. In truth neocons are more like the liberals they claim to hate - they favor bigger government, more government intervention in American lives, and massive spending through the government. They just differ on whether taxpayers should pay now or pay in 10 years.
Posted by: Mark Kittel at March 19, 2004 08:02 AM