JimBowie1958
Old Fogey
- Sep 25, 2011
- 63,590
- 16,756
- 2,220
Well this fellow nails it. The old neocon Establishment has essentially abandoned real Kirkian conservatism and turned into a justification for looting the nation.
Alt-Right vs. Conservative Inc.
In his 1953 book, “The Conservative Mind,” Russell Kirk — widely considered the grandfather of the modern conservative movement — identified 10 principles that define authentic traditionalist conservatism, or true conservatism:
Burke argued that men are not born with inherent abstract rights to which they are entitled. Instead, he highlighted the ancient inherited rights and liberties of the English people, the result of a specific set of historical circumstances and political and social developments unique to the English nation.
Kirk stressed that, despite Jefferson’s flowery abstractions about natural rights, these ancient English rights and liberties are the same rights and liberties to which Americans are entitled — being a nation founded by Englishmen and established upon those very principles.
This principle was echoed by Savoyard philosopher Joseph de Maistre in his critique of the French revolutionaries’ ideology:
The mainstream conservative movement in America has forgotten this entirely. It is why it supports nation-building and mass migration without any serious attempt at assimilation, things all true conservatives find abhorrent....
The Constitution alone cannot guarantee some sort of political utopia. Man is fallen — a city on a shining hill cannot be guaranteed by a mere piece of paper. The fact that within a decade of the documents’ adoption the government was already trying to subvert it should be a clear indication of that reality....
Fundamentally, the mainstream conservative movement has forgotten that many of the political values it promotes are rooted in a culture it has failed to defend — and, in many cases, helped to erode.
The Left, however, has remembered the importance of culture and politics, which is why it attacks Western culture relentlessly. This comes in the guise of attacks on white privilege and racism. Indeed, if the Alt-Right is merely a white nationalist movement, it's not difficult to see why that such a movement has arisen.
In their efforts to subvert Western civilization, the Left has normalized and encouraged attacks on Western people. It tolerates explicit anti-white racism and in many cases endorses it. In failing to adequately address reality, the mainstream conservative movement allowed the ethno-nationalist elements of the Alt-Right to turn what is inherently a cultural issue into a racial one.
Alt-Right vs. Conservative Inc.
In his 1953 book, “The Conservative Mind,” Russell Kirk — widely considered the grandfather of the modern conservative movement — identified 10 principles that define authentic traditionalist conservatism, or true conservatism:
First, the conservative believes that there exists an enduring moral order. That order is made for man, and man is made for it: Human nature is a constant, and moral truths are permanent.
Second, the conservative adheres to custom, convention, and continuity. It is old custom that enables people to live together peaceably; the destroyers of custom demolish more than they know or desire.
Third, conservatives believe in what may be called the principle of prescription. Conservatives sense that modern people are dwarfs on the shoulders of giants.
Fourth, conservatives are guided by their principle of prudence. Burke agrees with Plato that in the statesman, prudence is chief among virtues.
Fifth, conservatives pay attention to the principle of variety.
Sixth, conservatives are chastened by their principle of imperfectability … Man being imperfect, no perfect social order ever can be created.
Seventh, conservatives are persuaded that freedom and property are closely linked. Separate property from private possession, and Leviathan becomes master of all.
Eighth, conservatives uphold voluntary community, quite as they oppose involuntary collectivism.
Ninth, the conservative perceives the need for prudent restraints upon power and upon human passions.
Tenth, the thinking conservative understands that permanence and change must be recognized and reconciled in a vigorous society....
Second, the conservative adheres to custom, convention, and continuity. It is old custom that enables people to live together peaceably; the destroyers of custom demolish more than they know or desire.
Third, conservatives believe in what may be called the principle of prescription. Conservatives sense that modern people are dwarfs on the shoulders of giants.
Fourth, conservatives are guided by their principle of prudence. Burke agrees with Plato that in the statesman, prudence is chief among virtues.
Fifth, conservatives pay attention to the principle of variety.
Sixth, conservatives are chastened by their principle of imperfectability … Man being imperfect, no perfect social order ever can be created.
Seventh, conservatives are persuaded that freedom and property are closely linked. Separate property from private possession, and Leviathan becomes master of all.
Eighth, conservatives uphold voluntary community, quite as they oppose involuntary collectivism.
Ninth, the conservative perceives the need for prudent restraints upon power and upon human passions.
Tenth, the thinking conservative understands that permanence and change must be recognized and reconciled in a vigorous society....
Burke argued that men are not born with inherent abstract rights to which they are entitled. Instead, he highlighted the ancient inherited rights and liberties of the English people, the result of a specific set of historical circumstances and political and social developments unique to the English nation.
Kirk stressed that, despite Jefferson’s flowery abstractions about natural rights, these ancient English rights and liberties are the same rights and liberties to which Americans are entitled — being a nation founded by Englishmen and established upon those very principles.
This principle was echoed by Savoyard philosopher Joseph de Maistre in his critique of the French revolutionaries’ ideology:
The constitution of 1795, like its predecessors, has been drawn up for Man. Now, there is no such thing in the world as Man. In the course of my life, I have seen Frenchmen, Italians, Russians, etc.; I am even aware, thanks to Montesquieu, that one can be a Persian. But, as for Man, I declare that I have never met him in my life. If he exists, I certainly have no knowledge of him.
… This constitution is capable of being applied to all human communities from China to Geneva. But a constitution which is made for all nations is made for none.
… This constitution is capable of being applied to all human communities from China to Geneva. But a constitution which is made for all nations is made for none.
The mainstream conservative movement in America has forgotten this entirely. It is why it supports nation-building and mass migration without any serious attempt at assimilation, things all true conservatives find abhorrent....
The Constitution alone cannot guarantee some sort of political utopia. Man is fallen — a city on a shining hill cannot be guaranteed by a mere piece of paper. The fact that within a decade of the documents’ adoption the government was already trying to subvert it should be a clear indication of that reality....
Fundamentally, the mainstream conservative movement has forgotten that many of the political values it promotes are rooted in a culture it has failed to defend — and, in many cases, helped to erode.
The Left, however, has remembered the importance of culture and politics, which is why it attacks Western culture relentlessly. This comes in the guise of attacks on white privilege and racism. Indeed, if the Alt-Right is merely a white nationalist movement, it's not difficult to see why that such a movement has arisen.
In their efforts to subvert Western civilization, the Left has normalized and encouraged attacks on Western people. It tolerates explicit anti-white racism and in many cases endorses it. In failing to adequately address reality, the mainstream conservative movement allowed the ethno-nationalist elements of the Alt-Right to turn what is inherently a cultural issue into a racial one.
