1. I see your point, David, but by definition, isn’t conservatism an ideology of old ideas? I’m not meaning that as a bad thing, I would consider myself quite conservative. But generally, conservatism adheres to traditional, rarely changing beliefs about economics and the important role of the nuclear family. So if you’re waiting to hear a bold, new, and fresh approach to today’s problems, it likely won’t come from conservatives, unless the ideas are radical in a sort of throwback way, ie, only seeming new and radical in the face of everything else “progressive” going on. For instance, Ann Coulter’s recent assertion that we need to actually address the issues presented by single parenthood (that statistically, children of single parent homes are far more likely to engage in criminal behaviours) has been seen by much of the media as downright scandalous, even though I think most single parents themselves would say that their situation is less than ideal.

   (Keep in mind, I have no love for Ann Coulter, I’m merely pointing out that her staid, traditional viewpoint of praising traditional family comes off as “radical” in the culture in which we find ourselves, where it’s somewhat taboo to do anything but affirm non-traditional family units)

   I haven’t checked out all the new blogs you mention, though I have found Big Hollywood to have some interesting articles so far. I’ve found some of their thoughts on the under-representation of a more traditional heroic type in film pretty interesting. Given how wildly financially successful “noble” heroes are in film (Iron Man, The Dark Knight) it really does beg the question of why we still see so many more anti-heroes on screen.

   But your point about changing the culture, as an end to be sought, is well-taken. You really can’t just go around saying that, and hope it comes true, any more than calling something “historic” will make history bear that out. But in general, I do welcome a little more conservative presence in the blogosphere, so long as they can manage not to come off as puritanical old ninnies, but actually ask interesting questions, which will hopefully give people of any political stripe pause.

   — Donny Sparrow · Jan 9, 03:09 PM · #

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2. Donny, you picked up on the one point I didn’t go into, and you’re right: how do conservatives have new ideas when they’re all about old ideas?

   First of all, even old principles require new cultural and especially public policy applications. For example, my disbelief in big-government “solutions” is a pretty old idea, but how does it work now? You can’t turn back the clock, so how do we apply that philosophy to the big government we’ve got – how does it work out practically, realistically?

   So maybe I meant “ideas” on a lower plane than you did – perhaps “solutions” would have been better. Part of it is communicating old ideas that are no longer in fashion, and part of it is applying venerated principles to specific problems. And to do that effectively, and winningly, those ideas have to be married to innovations/real talent in other fields — technology, media, etc.

   — David · Jan 9, 04:12 PM · #

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3. So…did the crusader mentality start with the evangelicals and spread to the entire right, or vice versa?

   — Croft · Jan 10, 04:09 PM · #

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4. Ooh. Super good question. I’ll have to stew on that for a while before I answer … perhaps in another post.

   — David · Jan 11, 04:08 AM · #

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