Reagan's legacy...

Great article in NRO fleshing out how Ronald Reagan was able to fuse several factions of conservatism in America into the political movement that exists today.

Tribute to the Reagan legacy

The author, Gleaves Whitney explains:

"Two writers for The Economist, John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge, observe in their book The Right Nation: Conservative Power in America that Reagan achieved his own fusion, selectively appropriating the principles of classical conservatism and those of classical liberalism into a new synthesis. From the former he championed the belief in a transcendent moral order, respect for Western civilization, the legitimacy of old institutions, the force of custom, property rights, and a narrowly defined foreign policy. From the latter he championed individual freedom, equality of opportunity, the rule of law, constitutional government, lower taxes, and less regulation of business. Unifying the two different conservative strands were a fierce love of country and populist streak. It helped politically that Reagan rejected the historical pessimism of the traditionalists, embracing instead a sunny outlook toward the future. He genuinely believed in the limitless good the American people could do — if they were free. "His was the conservatism not of country clubs and boardrooms, but of talk radio, precinct meetings, and tax revolts."

Incidentally, I read the book referred to above and while you can tell it was written from an outsiders (i.e. British) perspective it offers some interesting analysis.

Posted by: Gary at 01:13 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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