Kristol betrays himself
Wag of the Finger
William Kristol
It's not easy being a conservative movement in a modern liberal democracy. It's not easy to rally a comfortable and commercial people to assume the responsibilities of a great power. It's not easy to defend excellence in an egalitarian age. It's not easy to encourage self-reliance in the era of the welfare state. It's not easy to make the case for the traditional virtues in the face of the seductions of liberation or to speak of duties in a world of rights and of honor in a nation pursuing pleasure.
February 6, 2008
This is from the new york times column and is both a wag of the finger and a kind of ironic tip of the hat. Despite the language and the framing, I think Kristol has just betrayed his secret belief that Americans are fundamentally progressive and support progressive policies. Of course, he thinks it's a source of immorality, but hasn't he just accused the entire nation of being immoral and "out of step" with conservative, authoritarian values?
