Steven P. BarrettIs Moral Political Philosophy Dead? Not Quite!
June 17th 2008 05:08
In his column “Political Moral Philosophy, RIP” Townhall.com columnist Ken Connors sheds light on what’s long plagued American politics. Getting elected and staying elected is more important than giving the voters real reasons for voting their candidates into office. Of course, this kind of political environment can lead only to the old Roman “bread and circus” philosophy of politics.
Not that I‘m completely objecting. After all, we do expect our legislators to look after our districts--within reason. But when both parties go out of their way just to bribe the public and demonstrate little or no backbone when it comes to telling the public why some tough measures might be necessary for economic or military reasons, this presages trouble and nothing but more trouble on the horizon.
“The dominant principle of moral philosophy guiding both major political parties seems to be reelection,” lamented Connors. He’s right, especially when liberals start talking like conservatives and conservatives are spending money in ways that’d blush even the biggest New Dealers.
Sadly, we’re facing a rise in libertarian impulses, a form of political Darwinism and perversion of conservatism that falsely elevates the individual over the rest of everybody else. Being a social conservative/fiscal liberal, I find this impulse repugnant. It’s the mindset of Cain, who when asked by God what he did to Abel, replied to the Lord, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Either Cain was the first card-carrying member of the Republican Party of Libertarian, I’m not sure--but I’m sure he would’ve loved Ron Paul.
Over the past 56 years I've learned that social conservatism and fiscal liberalism is a far more superior worldview. It helps me to remember that all of us are equally created in God's image; therefore I have no right to play Cain when it comes to the plight of the disadvantaged. Everything is God's creation, and from there, every good thought must derive from.
Classical conservatism isn't the exaltation of the individual's right to make as much as he can, and pursue other materialistic pleasures at his whim. That's the mindset of all the Cains since the Book of Genesis.
Conservatism, properly understood is a philosophy of humility, thus allowing for far greater acts of genuine liberality of love towards our fellow man than any other philosophy invented yet. Liberality of spirit and love naturally comes from true conservative values.
Not that I‘m completely objecting. After all, we do expect our legislators to look after our districts--within reason. But when both parties go out of their way just to bribe the public and demonstrate little or no backbone when it comes to telling the public why some tough measures might be necessary for economic or military reasons, this presages trouble and nothing but more trouble on the horizon.
“The dominant principle of moral philosophy guiding both major political parties seems to be reelection,” lamented Connors. He’s right, especially when liberals start talking like conservatives and conservatives are spending money in ways that’d blush even the biggest New Dealers.
Sadly, we’re facing a rise in libertarian impulses, a form of political Darwinism and perversion of conservatism that falsely elevates the individual over the rest of everybody else. Being a social conservative/fiscal liberal, I find this impulse repugnant. It’s the mindset of Cain, who when asked by God what he did to Abel, replied to the Lord, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Either Cain was the first card-carrying member of the Republican Party of Libertarian, I’m not sure--but I’m sure he would’ve loved Ron Paul.
Over the past 56 years I've learned that social conservatism and fiscal liberalism is a far more superior worldview. It helps me to remember that all of us are equally created in God's image; therefore I have no right to play Cain when it comes to the plight of the disadvantaged. Everything is God's creation, and from there, every good thought must derive from.
Classical conservatism isn't the exaltation of the individual's right to make as much as he can, and pursue other materialistic pleasures at his whim. That's the mindset of all the Cains since the Book of Genesis.
Conservatism, properly understood is a philosophy of humility, thus allowing for far greater acts of genuine liberality of love towards our fellow man than any other philosophy invented yet. Liberality of spirit and love naturally comes from true conservative values.
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