The conceit that“Americans appear to be isolated, viciously competitive, suspicious of one another and spiritually shallow; and that we are anxiously looking for some kind of attachment to something real and profound in an age of decreasing trust and regard — seem to be emblematic of capitalism.”
is cynicism towards society. Cynicism towards society motivates (or is motivated by) faith in, or even naiveté toward, government.And the combination of those two attitudes is socialism.
Cynicism is an antonym for faith.Conservatism is not naiveté toward either society or government. Conservatism is skepticism toward government, all right—but it is also sufficiently skeptical about society to recognize the (regrettable) necessity of government.