Transforming Culture through Politics?
David Jones discusses the possibilities for the Republican Party in the next Presidential elections. What will happen if they embrace Libertarianism? Who will be the last one standing?
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The presidential election cycle has begun! Did it ever end? I follow politics much in the same way that many folks follow professional wrestling, Dancing with the Stars or the Jersey Shore reality show. I admit that I view it as a form of entertainment — the superficiality of main-stream politics and punditry leads me to this mentality often times. Look no farther than Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, or Bill O’Reilly. In reality though it’s much more than just solely a form of entertainment. Elected officials send our sons and daughters off to war, some of whom return in caskets. As Catholics we need to approach politics in a serious way. Christ calls us to transform culture, not to be swallowed up by it… TO READ MORE CLICK BELOW.
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“Culture is not transformed by politics. Culture must be rooted in those “Permanent Things” which preserve and promote our humanity in all of its greatness. ”
Does this strike anyone else as naive?
Culture can certainly be destroyed by politics. Politics can certainly favor some forms of culture over others. Isn’t it right then to say that culture can be transformed by politics?
Kevin,
What you say is not necessarily wrong. In fact, I would encourage you to read a recent article by my friend, Deacon Keith Fournier. I think he addresses some of your concerns. I would ask you (and others) though to dig a little deeper.
Culture impacts politics (and politicians) much more than politics effecting culture. It’s an interesting question to ask what creates or produces culture? For a culture to succeed and flourish it must be rooted in truth, beauty and the good… If it is not rooted in those things, it will die. Ultimately it is Christ who transforms culture.
The thought of men like Russell Kirk, Rod Dreher, and Gregory Wolfe is far from being naive. They are teaching us some important lessons. Ensure to watch or listen to Rod Dreher below. Read the articles of Gregory Wolfe which are linked to below as well. Judge what they say and verify it with your own experience.
Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) – Rod Dreher on Crunchy Conservatism
Beauty Will Save the World by Gregory Wolfe
” ‘The central conservative truth,’ Daniel Moynihan famously remarked, ‘is that it is culture, not politics, that determines the success of a society.’ Being a liberal himself, he added that the ‘central liberal truth is that politics can change a culture and save it from itself.’ But the central American truth is that there’s no way to cleanly separate politics from culture, or to separate either one from economics. ” – Ross Douthat & R Salam
The American Conservative magazine is one of the biggest proponents of this reduction of conservatism to Libertarianism.
Since when is Daniel Larison properly categorized as a ‘libertarian’? The American Conservative is a proponent of the reduction of ‘conservatism’ to a mess of insipid mooing about foreign policy (which may be why its circulation is a tenth that of National Review).
The American Conservative, along with Chronicles magazine, are two of the most interesting, engaging, and prescient periodicals of any political stripe. They both cover a huge range of issues; TAC recently published one of the best articles on traditional marriage I’ve yet read, and Chronicles recently did a brilliant spread on the concept of property ownership. National Review has higher circulation: so what? And Britney Spears sold ten million albums, so obviously she’s a better musician than Thelonious Monk. Is that the logic? And to reduce the concerns of those young and forward-thinking conservatives wise enough to begin questioning the brilliance of America’s Vietnamized foreign policy for the last thirty years to “insipid mooing” is to sound exceptionally foolish.
I subscribe to both TAC and Chronicles as well. I encourage other folks who are interested in politics and culture to do the same.
I would also refer folks to the following interviews/article on The Daily Bell regarding our topic:
Daniel McCarthy on the Future of the American Conservative Magazine and Taking Back the Right
Nelson Hultberg on Libertarian-Conservatism and His New Conservative American Political Party
Thomas Woods, Jr. on Popularizing Freedom, and Why Real Libertarian Conservatives Are Anti-State and Anti-War
Wikipedia – Paleolibertarianism
Also, didn’t Pat Buchanan found TAC? He’s always been outspoken against libertarianism and holds Kirk to be the best among the early conservative movement’s personalities. That being said, I believe TAC encouraged voting for D’s in 2006; hard for me to imagine a conservative case for the Pelosi House.
Francis,
I love that quote above. Do you know which article that came out of? I would love to read it!
Yes, I think you’re correct in saying that PJB was one of the founders of TAC and currently still contributes to it. Daniel McCarthy is the current editor. Refer to his interview above.
I would agree with you that there are differences between traditional conservatism and paleo-conservatism vs. libertarianism. But they grow much closer together when comparing traditional/paleo-conservatism to paleo-libertarianism. Refer to the Wikipedia article above. That was/is the project of Murray Rothbard and Lew Rockwell, which Daniel McCarthy is continuing through the new focus of TAC. He bringing together in one magazine the best thought of both traditional conservatives and libertarians.
I wonder if this experiment will or can work? Can traditional conservatives support anarchy which is the logical end of libertarian political thought? Some libertarian websites openly promote anti-Catholic materials which are very close to the Mises Inst. For example, refer to these interviews on The Daily Bell.
Tom Harpur on Bible Mythology, and Why He says Jesus Christ Never Lived Historically
Occultist Jordan Maxwell on the Foundations of Western Religion and Society, and Why Nothing Is as It Seems
Jeffrey Armstrong on the Mysteries of Indian Culture, the Relevance of Hindu Vedas and the Reality of Ancient Flying Machines
The quote comes from “Grand New Party,” the book Ross Douthat and R. Salam (from NRO; can’t recall his first name, and I stubbornly refuse to look it up) collaborated on.
I’ve heard other good things about this book… I must finally buy and read it!
Kevin,
Several years ago I came across this dictum: “Politics is downstream from culture.” And I agree. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t a feedback loop, but I think culture generally has the primacy… the political *tends* to reflect the cultural.
The American Conservative, along with Chronicles magazine, are two of the most interesting, engaging, and prescient periodicals of any political stripe.
Among Dr. Fleming’s interesting and engaging projects over the years has been hosting the Slobodan Milosevic Press Agency in the pages of Chronicles.
Don’t miss this article related to our topic!
TAC – Cultured Conservatism
Why aesthetics is at least as important as politics
By Jeremy Beer & Gregory Wolfe
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