Kristol Neoconservatism

Townhall.com ^ | March 22, 2014 | Jack Kerwick

[ek_hornbeck]

Thanks, I'll make it a point to look that book up.

On another thread, somebody mentioned that interventionism vs. anti-interventionism isn't really a Left vs. Right issue as a conflict between realists vs. idealists.

I would argue that realism is the heart of conservatism, utopian idealism is the essence of liberalism, whether it's outright Marxist social engineering or nation-building neoconservatism.

[ek_hornbeck]

The idea that any form of social engineering is actually "utopian," is itself hopelessly flawed. People create their cultures; cultures which reflect the combination of the nature of those creating them, and the experiences of their families, down through the generations. The Leftist inspired meddling in other people's cultures has resulted in one atrocity after another.

"Utopian" is being used here (and almost anywhere else) as a pejorative - people who ignore reality in favor of ideology.

Welfare state liberalism believes that you can engineer a domestic utopia by taxing and spending away "inequality" (and basic human nature). Neoconservatives and liberal internationalists think that cultural, religious, and ethnic differences can be engineered away with nation-building schemes.

Utopian dreamers always create dystopias when they come to power.

[Pelham]

“I would argue that realism is the heart of conservatism, utopian idealism is the essence of liberalism, whether it’s outright Marxist social engineering or nation-building neoconservatism. “

I agree.

[Ohioan]

I have no disagreement with what you say as to the intended usage.

My point is that the Left's neurotic hatred of reality, which induces them to try to re-engineer human society so as to suppress all the qualities and levels of achievement, which make any person or people actually unique, should never be seen as idealistic. It always ends in misery & disaster--as well as growing confusion along the way.

William Flax