Comments on: The American Conservative Dilemma - Governance http://www.wurfwhile.com/blog/2006/07/19/the-american-conservative-dilemma-governance/ Insight - Foresight - Hindsight Sun, 12 Oct 2008 14:48:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Greg Smith http://www.wurfwhile.com/blog/2006/07/19/the-american-conservative-dilemma-governance/#comment-166 Greg Smith Thu, 20 Jul 2006 15:43:48 +0000 http://www.wurfwhile.com/blog/?p=353#comment-166 Great post. I think there are a lot of conservatives (true Goldwater conservatives, not the current crop of neo-con leaders) who feel that their excess of power in Washington has done a disservice to their views (We're also seeing Madison's views from the Federalist Papers being vindicated right before our eyes). The last 5+ years have given us a great look at how conservative ideology doesn't translate into any kind of ability to govern. Putting people who despise government in charge of the government has turned out to be an unmitigated disaster. As Barack Obama said a few months ago in a speech, "The problem isn't that their philosophy isn't working the way it's supposed to - it's that it is. It's that it's doing exactly what it's supposed to do." I think thats a very telling observation of our current government. They can't govern well because they don't think government can/should govern well. I'm also interested to read Chait's piece in the New Republic. I've written a little bit on the constant tension between freedom and liberty (or individualism and civic virtue as I wrote) and I'm always looking for more views on the subject and how those issues play out in our republican (small "r") society. Great post. I think there are a lot of conservatives (true Goldwater conservatives, not the current crop of neo-con leaders) who feel that their excess of power in Washington has done a disservice to their views (We’re also seeing Madison’s views from the Federalist Papers being vindicated right before our eyes). The last 5+ years have given us a great look at how conservative ideology doesn’t translate into any kind of ability to govern. Putting people who despise government in charge of the government has turned out to be an unmitigated disaster. As Barack Obama said a few months ago in a speech, “The problem isn’t that their philosophy isn’t working the way it’s supposed to - it’s that it is. It’s that it’s doing exactly what it’s supposed to do.” I think thats a very telling observation of our current government. They can’t govern well because they don’t think government can/should govern well.

I’m also interested to read Chait’s piece in the New Republic. I’ve written a little bit on the constant tension between freedom and liberty (or individualism and civic virtue as I wrote) and I’m always looking for more views on the subject and how those issues play out in our republican (small “r”) society.

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