Introduction:
I do most of my contemplation running. It’s my way of
meditation. Today’s hour long run paired a two hour long podcast lecture on
Tocqueville by noted conservative pundit Michael Barone[1].
I enjoy Tocqueville and his interpretation of American democracy, and Barone did
a great job to fill in the gap to reflect a more modern political climate. However,
his use of conservatism versus “New Deal” Liberalism made the argument too
simple, and frankly, untrue. He follows Marx’s example. Marx pairs the
capitalists against the proletariats in the same way Barone pits conservatives
against so-called “New Deal” liberals.
Individual Choice:
According to Barone, what separates a conservative and a
liberal is that one values individual freedom and that the other assumes that
people are too stupid to make a choice, so he depends on the federal
government. Not only is this view grossly wrong, but it is far too simplistic. First
off, I don’t think that anyone disputes individual freedom. Anyone that thinks
otherwise would rather point fingers than actually partake in serious
discussion. The real question will always be the type of government we want to
preside over a particular issue, and in this sense there is no such thing as
“more” or “less” government, just the type of government. In this argument, I
am taking voting as a form of government. Any regulation or deregulation is
ultimately voted on and thus put under the authority of government known as the
voting system.
What is a
Liberal or a Conservative?
I don’t know. People spend so much time categorizing
others’ opinions and interpretations instead of some solutions. And, in the end
who cares? The majority wins. Sometimes the so-called conservative or liberal
solution, politician, plan will win and sometimes it won’t. The policy just
depends on what the people want.
Taking Sides
I don’t have to pick a side. If mainstream politics means
trying to predict the future and picking at history to try to fulfill a robust
political ideology, then I’d rather focus on the big picture and remain a
pragmatist.
[1]
The podcast is C-SPAN – American History TV – Lectures in American History. If
you’re an American History and Politics buff, then this is worth some of your
time.
