Investing In The Right Ideas

Reposted as history. Originally posted in May of 2005.

BY James Pierson - Friday, May 27, 2005 - Wall Street Journal (OpinionJournal.com)

How philanthropists helped make conservatism a governing philosophy.

Reports by People for the American Way and the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy dwell with heavy emphasis on the supposedly nefarious strategies and tactics employed by the (conservative) foundations to advance their (in the opinion of progressives) highly dubious cause.

Invariably, these broadsides ignore the substance of the ideas themselves, quite as if John Stuart Mill's famous characterization of conservatives as "the stupid party" were still the rule in the early 21st century. But the plain fact is that modern conservatives have been engaged with the world of ideas to a far greater extent than most modern liberals.

Attacks by liberals-progressives-socialists on conservatives is an ancient tradition, as noted by the quote above. Al Gore probably thought he would be revered Like John Stuart Mill if he called George Bush stupid. Perhaps that is why no meaningul dialog is possible. When democrats start off with the opinion that conservatives are (in the words of today's democratic leader Howard Dean) "evil, corrupt and brain-dead", the consequence of this attitude are obvious. When you spew hate, hate is returned. Additionaly, no one ever listens to someone for whom they have contempt.

That is the reality we face today. The public dialog is as poisoned as it has ever been. Perhaps that is why the only place a dialog on important issues is currently going on is within the Republican Party.

Hayek is correctly given credit for the underpinnings of most of the different movements that are currently shaping our world, but that does not mean that all flavors of "conservatives" agree on everything. Republicans have a lively discussion going about all of the major issues of our times. The result has been conservative think tanks that discuss what is happening in the world, and how to deal with it effectively.

Democrats (i.e. liberals, socialists, progressives, by whatever label they chose at any moment) have opted out of the national conversation by two acts. Virulent hatred of conservatives the result of which is they don't listen to anything a conservative has to say, and the "political correctness" doctrine by which they have attempted to end discussion of thoughts or ideas they deem inappropriate to even discuss. The only people silenced have been those who care what democrats want, their own supporters.

The failure of socialism is ignored by democrats. Anything democrats propose and get into law is deemed a success no matter the "unintended consequences". This refusal to address reality is a serious shortcoming. Reality exists whether it is deemed acceptable to say or not.

Conservatives have not handicapped themselves with this attitude. Among conservatives worldwide, and especially here in America, the attitude is best summed up by Ronald Reagan's attitude, "if we agree 70%, then we should be friends". With this attitude it is possible to disagree and discuss complex matters with the open acceptance that leads to brilliant ideas coming to the fore.

The creation of these conservative think tanks, and the results they have obtained, would have led to less positive results if they were handicapped by a straight jacket of "political correctness".


This article is a must read. Everyone needs to learn more about the influence of F.A. Hayek on the world we live in. "The Road To Serfdom" is not his sole contribution. It is amazing how much we owe to this man.