On: G.K. Chesterton: The fallacy of success (1909)

[smacktoward]

And yet the crowning achievement of conservatism in the last thirty years has been tearing down the processes, rules, barriers, morals, norms, etc. that were put in place during the Great Depression to prevent capitalism from tearing itself apart again.

[mscottmcbee → smacktoward]

There's a difference between an ideology and a country's political party.

[smacktoward → mscottmcbee]

This line of argument tiptoes kind of close to the "no true Scotsman" argument, though. Don't you think?

"Conservatism is about respect for established institutions!"

"But every conservative I see is running around tearing down those institutions."

"Those people aren't real conservatives!"

[__--__ → smacktoward]

No, the line of argument is that conservative means two different things in two different contexts.

[walshemj → smacktoward]

Thats neo conservatism run for the benefit of "dodgy" barrow boys not old school one nation tory or even 50's republicans like Eisenhower.

[arnoooooo → smacktoward]

Actually, although I don't agree with the idea, this is part of a conservative process. What is supposed to be conserved is the established order (Rich over poor, work over lazyness, God over men, etc.). The premise is that order has value, even if unfair, and that an established order is better than no order at all.