Ms. Riboua- This is as interesting a framework through which to understand our political divide as was Thomas Sowell's A Conflict of Visions. Any favorable comparision to Thomas Sowell is high praise, indeed.
It’s interesting to think how the different factions will influence one another. I am one of those (ex-?) liberals. I’m not ideologically opposed to using government power to remedy social problems, but seeing what government has become, I’m thinking that conservatives opposed to such might have had a good point. Student loans, for example. Disastrous effects on our whole society. Theoretically it could have been managed better, but practically, that was not a real-world option given how politics works. So maybe it shouldn’t have been done at all. We can’t say nobody warned us.
Fortunately for ex-liberals, I think many American conservatives have themselves become increasingly skeptical towards military adventurism and global institutions. To be clear, I don't mean that American conservatives are simply anti-war in a general sense, though that is an important part of it. I mean that American conservatives are increasingly aware that what the US government has been trying to export culturally in recent decades are things that most American conservatives do not like. American conservatives might not put it in terms as stark as "the US is an evil empire", but they'll nonetheless want an American foreign policy that will be agreeable to the ex-liberals.
I think it's valid to question whether "America" is a force for good. Even if you are a white person who is basically pro-white, or an Anglo who is basically pro-Anglo in some way, is that even what America is any more? The founding population, and those racially and culturally similar to them, has been reduced to such a small fraction that without re-founding the nation somehow, it's hard to see what connection "America" has to its original people. Isn't it just West Israel now, in practice?
America is a legacy - the American nation (genealogical descendants of those who won the revolution) was overwhelmed by immigration more than a century ago. Teddy Roosevelt talked about this, about the importance of each generation embracing that legacy, completely and without reservation, so that the value of it to humanity could be preserved.
I think this realignment could endure, and the Republicans could win over even more disillusioned liberals, if Trump's successor (whether Vance or anyone else) applies different rhetoric and attitudes to the same policies. For example, praising legal immigration while punishing the illegal kind, or going beyond mere anti-wokeness and adopting a mid-20th century liberal approach to fighting racism. Unfortunately, few people on the right seem inclined toward any kind of moderation (not that the left is much different).
A lot of this feel like Neocons 2.0. I’d be curious on your thoughts about the similarities and differences from then?
Ms. Riboua- This is as interesting a framework through which to understand our political divide as was Thomas Sowell's A Conflict of Visions. Any favorable comparision to Thomas Sowell is high praise, indeed.
It’s interesting to think how the different factions will influence one another. I am one of those (ex-?) liberals. I’m not ideologically opposed to using government power to remedy social problems, but seeing what government has become, I’m thinking that conservatives opposed to such might have had a good point. Student loans, for example. Disastrous effects on our whole society. Theoretically it could have been managed better, but practically, that was not a real-world option given how politics works. So maybe it shouldn’t have been done at all. We can’t say nobody warned us.
Fortunately for ex-liberals, I think many American conservatives have themselves become increasingly skeptical towards military adventurism and global institutions. To be clear, I don't mean that American conservatives are simply anti-war in a general sense, though that is an important part of it. I mean that American conservatives are increasingly aware that what the US government has been trying to export culturally in recent decades are things that most American conservatives do not like. American conservatives might not put it in terms as stark as "the US is an evil empire", but they'll nonetheless want an American foreign policy that will be agreeable to the ex-liberals.
Good, thought-provoking article.
I think it's valid to question whether "America" is a force for good. Even if you are a white person who is basically pro-white, or an Anglo who is basically pro-Anglo in some way, is that even what America is any more? The founding population, and those racially and culturally similar to them, has been reduced to such a small fraction that without re-founding the nation somehow, it's hard to see what connection "America" has to its original people. Isn't it just West Israel now, in practice?
America is a legacy - the American nation (genealogical descendants of those who won the revolution) was overwhelmed by immigration more than a century ago. Teddy Roosevelt talked about this, about the importance of each generation embracing that legacy, completely and without reservation, so that the value of it to humanity could be preserved.
So I should embrace immigrants fully and wholeheartedly even as they openly and viciously plan my racial destruction? No thanks.
It might help if you gave a few examples of ex-liberals who have moved to the right, or specific policy issues.
I think this realignment could endure, and the Republicans could win over even more disillusioned liberals, if Trump's successor (whether Vance or anyone else) applies different rhetoric and attitudes to the same policies. For example, praising legal immigration while punishing the illegal kind, or going beyond mere anti-wokeness and adopting a mid-20th century liberal approach to fighting racism. Unfortunately, few people on the right seem inclined toward any kind of moderation (not that the left is much different).