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John Wilson's avatar

Oh man this was GOOD! Carlo nailed conservative drift perfectly:

"This history holds a lesson for the left: you will get the Right you deserve. For example, by ungenerously underplaying the better religious and philosophical ideals that animated many conservative thinkers, and by giving prominence to their putative embrace of “inequality,” you are objectively contributing to the process that leads to a more nihilistic right."

I have been joking that I'm too true of a conservative to ever vote for Trump, after this conversation it turns out I was more apt in saying so than I realized!

As for equality... what equality? Equality of the sexes, of the races, of the classes, all of the above? I am pretty sure I am for all of them. And because I am NOT an individualist first and foremost (no true conservative can be, individualists are derided as libertarians for a reason) I have to say I am for equality of all... before the law, before God, before fellow human-beings... Now I did have to shake off the lie of meritocracy to get there, but still...

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Luigi's avatar

I believe I largely agree with Matt, but I really appreciate Carlo's contribution. I've always been frustrated with right wingers woefully unable to articulate their position. I also remember cringing at what we call the "New Left" from the 60's. Carlo's "You get the right you deserve" was hugely informative and I think he hit the nail on the head. Activism should not be a personal endeavor for narcissists trying to look cool, and making everyone else's life difficult. You also need to build after you destroy. I think I get the "F$!# the left" perspective a lot more now, seeing how our fore-bearers abused the label on the left in that era. Thumbs up.

P.S. Hilarious that the guy who made it make sense to me doesn't identify as conservative. Read into that what you will

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