"the End of Conservatism"
A friend of mine linked this article to me.
Most interesting to me is this paragraph:
Today's world has a different set of problems. A robust economy has not lifted the median wages of Americans by much. Most workers are insecure about health care, and most corporations are unnerved by its rising costs. Globalization is seen as a threat, bringing fierce competition from dozens of countries. The danger of Islamic militancy remains real and lasting, but few Americans believe they understand the phenomenon or know how best to combat it. They see our addiction to oil and the degradation of the environment as real dangers to a stable and successful future. Most crucially, Americans' views of the state are shifting. Today's world has a different set of problems. A robust economy has not lifted the median wages of Americans by much. Most workers are insecure about health care, and most corporations are unnerved by its rising costs. Globalization is seen as a threat, bringing fierce competition from dozens of countries. The danger of Islamic militancy remains real and lasting, but few Americans believe they understand the phenomenon or know how best to combat it. They see our addiction to oil and the degradation of the environment as real dangers to a stable and successful future. Most crucially, Americans' views of the state are shifting. They don't want bigger government-a poll last year found that a majority (57 percent) still believe that government makes it harder for people to get ahead in life-but they do want a smarter government, one that can help them be safe, secure and well prepared for political and economic challenges. In this context, conservative slogans sound weirdly anachronistic, like watching an old TV show from ... well, from the 1970s.
The part I bolded is something I particularly agree with. I've been saying for some time now that I don't necessarily want a *bigger* government, I'd like a *better* government. I do think government can be helpful. The problem is that "help" isn't solely defined by what the helper thinks is helpful, but by helper and helpee acting in concert. Sometimes "help" is best rendered by getting the hell out of the way. But sometimes it isn't, and in those moments, I find it's more common than not that what's needed isn't a quick fix, but something that requires real work. Government hasn't managed to handle the latter, "liberal vs. conservative" in this country is still best defined as "quick money fixes vs. getting the hell out of the way"-- which do no good for the myriad of problems that require a more complex, thoughtful, and innovative solution.
Most interesting to me is this paragraph:
Today's world has a different set of problems. A robust economy has not lifted the median wages of Americans by much. Most workers are insecure about health care, and most corporations are unnerved by its rising costs. Globalization is seen as a threat, bringing fierce competition from dozens of countries. The danger of Islamic militancy remains real and lasting, but few Americans believe they understand the phenomenon or know how best to combat it. They see our addiction to oil and the degradation of the environment as real dangers to a stable and successful future. Most crucially, Americans' views of the state are shifting. Today's world has a different set of problems. A robust economy has not lifted the median wages of Americans by much. Most workers are insecure about health care, and most corporations are unnerved by its rising costs. Globalization is seen as a threat, bringing fierce competition from dozens of countries. The danger of Islamic militancy remains real and lasting, but few Americans believe they understand the phenomenon or know how best to combat it. They see our addiction to oil and the degradation of the environment as real dangers to a stable and successful future. Most crucially, Americans' views of the state are shifting. They don't want bigger government-a poll last year found that a majority (57 percent) still believe that government makes it harder for people to get ahead in life-but they do want a smarter government, one that can help them be safe, secure and well prepared for political and economic challenges. In this context, conservative slogans sound weirdly anachronistic, like watching an old TV show from ... well, from the 1970s.
The part I bolded is something I particularly agree with. I've been saying for some time now that I don't necessarily want a *bigger* government, I'd like a *better* government. I do think government can be helpful. The problem is that "help" isn't solely defined by what the helper thinks is helpful, but by helper and helpee acting in concert. Sometimes "help" is best rendered by getting the hell out of the way. But sometimes it isn't, and in those moments, I find it's more common than not that what's needed isn't a quick fix, but something that requires real work. Government hasn't managed to handle the latter, "liberal vs. conservative" in this country is still best defined as "quick money fixes vs. getting the hell out of the way"-- which do no good for the myriad of problems that require a more complex, thoughtful, and innovative solution.