The Conservative Tradition

[Cypress]

I have a this video class on my watch list, partly because I decided I need to learn how it is possible that conservatives could have turned into fan boys of a shockingly dim witted and incompetent Reality TV host. What is it about Trumpf that inspires them to spend countless hours of their lived defending him, and providing cover for him?

The Conservative Tradition
Professor Patrick N. Allitt, Ph.D.
Emory University

Preserving the traditions and values of the past and applying them to the future—this is the core of the Conservative attitude. While the development of Conservatism has followed different arcs in the United States and Great Britain, this rich and fascinating political tradition has decisively impacted the evolution of both nations and their grand political institutions.

Learn about the People behind the Philosophy

• John Stuart Mill, the British economist and philosopher whose writings on the philosophy of utilitarianism and free markets, on the one hand, and advocacy of equal rights for women and minorities and freedom of speech and thought, on the other, have led both Conservatives and Liberals to claim him as a founding voice
• Ayn Rand, the Russian émigré novelist and philosopher whose work influenced a generation of Libertarian thinkers, including former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan, once a member of her inner circle
• Francis Schaeffer, the Christian evangelical theologian credited not only with coining the term "secular humanism" but with helping spark the rise of the Christian Right

In addition, Professor Allitt shows you the contributions made by other major theorists and practitioners, including Adam Smith, Henry Adams, Alexander Hamilton, William Pitt the Younger, Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, and Ronald Reagan. And he takes you deep inside the Conservative movement to reveal the influence of voices from other parts of the culture, such as journalists H. L. Mencken and William F. Buckley Jr. and economists Ludwig von Mises and Friedrich von Hayek.

Sample Lectures:
Burke, Tradition, and the French Revolution: Learn about the ideas of Edmund Burke, the Whig politician whose Reflections on the Revolution in France is regarded by many Conservatives as the founding text of their political creed. His book, written after the conflict's early stages, counseled respect for tradition and avoidance of radical change.

Conservatives in the American South: Southern plantation owners wanted to be left to their own devices, without the federal government imposing its power on their states. Explore how these desires combined with unapologetic racist justifications for slavery to shape the face of southern Conservatism.

Conservatism and the American Civil War: Can the Civil War be considered the clash of two Conservative philosophies? Judge for yourself as you see conservative southern states secede from the Union while northern Conservatives refused to acknowledge their secession as legitimate.

The Idea of Anglo-Saxon Supremacy: Racism was intellectually respectable in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with Anglo-Saxons seen as destined to rule the rest of the world. Explore how this idea influenced Conservative thought in Britain and America.

Opposing the New Deal: The onset of the Great Depression would transform American Conservatism. Explore how Conservatives reacted to both the New Deal and to arguments over whether America should stand behind Britain in defending European civilization in the Second World War, or remain aloof from a conflict in which the nation had no vital interest.

Reagan Triumphant: You look at the rise of Ronald Reagan, who was to American Conservatism what Thatcher was to British Conservatism. Enjoying great personal popularity, he was able to make Conservatism seem normal, friendly, relaxed, and all-American, qualities it had certainly not exhibited in the 1950s and 1960s.

Source credit: Professor Patrick N. Allitt, Ph.D., Emory University, great courses dot com

 

[StoneByStone]

What is it about Trumpf that inspires them to spend countless hours of their lived defending him, and providing cover for him?

For some, it's that he represents the last dying gasp of toxic masculinity. They cling to him because they don't like that things are changing.
For others, it's more of a trolling thing. Trump pisses off SJW cucks, and that's funny.

 

[Cypress]

For some, it's that he represents the last dying gasp of toxic masculinity. They cling to him because they don't like that things are changing.
For others, it's more of a trolling thing. Trump pisses off SJW cucks, and that's funny.

That sounds very plausible to me.

So, according to this premise, modern conservatism is not a coherent political philosophy - it is a manifestation of petty grievances resentful conservatives hold against liberals.

 

[Old Trapper]

For some, it's that he represents the last dying gasp of toxic masculinity. They cling to him because they don't like that things are changing.
For others, it's more of a trolling thing. Trump pisses off SJW cucks, and that's funny.

"Terry Kupers defines toxic masculinity as "the constellation of socially regressive male traits that serve to foster domination, the devaluation of women, homophobia and wanton violence". According to Kupers, toxic masculinity serves to outline aspects of hegemonic masculinity that are socially destructive, "such as misogyny, homophobia, greed, and violent domination". These traits are contrasted with more positive aspects of hegemonic masculinity such as "pride in [one's] ability to win at sports, to maintain solidarity with a friend, to succeed at work, or to provide for [one's] family".

Toxic masculine norms are a feature of life for men in American prisons, where they are reflected in the behaviour of both staff and inmates. The qualities of extreme self-reliance, domination of other men through violence, and avoiding the appearance of either femininity or weakness, comprise an unspoken code among prisoners. Suppressing vulnerable emotions is often adopted in order to successfully cope with the harsh conditions of prison life, defined by punishment, social isolation, and aggression. These factors likely play a role in suicide among male prisoners."

 

[Eagle_Eye]

On the other hand how can liberals turn blind eyes when faced with the truth that Hillary broke the law several times ( not my statement but the FBI's) endangered national security ( again the FBI says it's true) lied to investigators (matter of record) and say well she was never charged or convicted but you ignore the same thing about Trump? Trump is no prize but neither is Hillary.

 

[Cypress]

On the other hand how can liberals turn blind eyes when faced with the truth that Hillary broke the law several times ( not my statement but the FBI's) endangered national security ( again the FBI says it's true) lied to investigators (matter of record) and say well she was never charged or convicted but you ignore the same thing about Trump? Trump is no prize but neither is Hillary.

Hillary Clinton has been relentlessly investigated, on and off, since 1994 by partisan Republican committees.

No proof of criminality has ever been found and she had never been indicted for a crime.

That means either Hillary Clinton is the criminal mastermind of the century, somehow able to avoid detection during three decades of investigations.

Or, you are an utter fool who willfully engages in abject dishonesty.

 

[Adolf_Twitler]

It was never Obamacare that turned the Republicans into a hate group- it was the fact that they never got over the fact that the Democrats elected a Black man to be their president that turned their party into a White Nationalist hate group.

I mean, they use the excuse of Obamacare as their reason to hate Obama, but not believable because Mitt Romney was going to introduce a National Healthcare Act of his own had he won, and many Republicans were wanting to vote for him in 2008.

So, the only reason why Donald Trump was elected, was because the Republicans wanted a candidate that represented their expressed hatred towards Obama- and Hillary!

All you have to be in this world is a liberal or Democrat- and the Republicans are going to hate you just for that alone.

Yes, the Republican party is the party of hate, haters, and hatefulness!

That is just the way it is in America today! Hateful! And most of it is Donald Trump's and his base's fault for voting for it and representing it out in the open for all to see!

 

[Eagle_Eye]

Hillary Clinton has been relentlessly investigated, on and off, since 1994 by partisan Republican committees.

No proof of criminality has ever been found and she had never been indicted for a crime.

That means either Hillary Clinton is the criminal mastermind of the century, somehow able to avoid detection during three decades of investigations.

Or, you are an utter fool who willfully engages in abject dishonesty.

Why do you insist on continuing those lies? For god's sake Comey testified before congress she used unsecure email for classified discussions. Yes fool a violation of law!, he also testified she had classified on a private unsecured server Yes fool another violation of law! that she lied to investigators again a violation of law!. No sport you can pretend that didn't happen but it is recorded in the national archives! Would you like me to continue with her other violations I can?

 

[Mott the Hoople]

That sounds very plausible to me.

So, according to this premise, modern conservatism is not a coherent political philosophy - it is a manifestation of petty grievances resentful conservatives hold against liberals.

I think if you read JD Vance’s autobiographical “Hillbilly Elegy” you’d have a far more clear and accurate idea why. I lived in the area for five years and Vance is spot on accurate.

Though his politics are right leaning I think you will find him a remarkable young man.

I’d recommend YouTubing his TED Talk.

 

[Cypress]

I think if you read JD Vance’s autobiographical “Hillbilly Elegy” you’d have a far more clear and accurate idea why. I lived in the area for five years and Vance is spot on accurate.

Though his politics are right leaning I think you will find him a remarkable young man.

I’d recommend YouTubing his TED Talk.

Thank you for the good intel!

The proposition that economics are driving the impoverished white underclass towards Trump might have some merit, but on balance it never made a lot of sense to me.

I think human nature is such that when economic inequality and injustice become intolerable, it becomes easy for demagogues to turn to resentment to manipulate people. Hitler directed the under classes anger towards Jews and communists. The Bolsheviks got the Russian peasantry to get angry at, and kill, the kulaks. Donald Trump and the Republican southern strategy in general got the white underclass to blame their problems on Mexicans and Blacks, rather than on our corporate overlords.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

That sounds very plausible to me.

So, according to this premise, modern conservatism is not a coherent political philosophy - it is a manifestation of petty grievances resentful conservatives hold against liberals.

I would argue that there is no true conservative political tradition in the US. I would argue that our current political divide is really between classical liberalism and neoliberalism.

Much of the political rancor and division we see isn’t really ideological but tribal in nature.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

Thank you for the good intel!

The proposition that economics are driving the impoverished white underclass towards Trump might have some merit, but on balance it never made a lot of sense to me.

I think human nature is such that when economic inequality and injustice become intolerable, it becomes easy for demagogues to turn to resentment to manipulate people. Hitler directed the under classes anger towards Jews and communists. The Bolsheviks got the Russian peasantry to get angry at, and kill, the kulaks. Donald Trump and the Republican southern strategy in general got the white underclass to blame their problems on Mexicans and Blacks, rather than on our corporate overlords.

I don’t think though that you’re looking at the role social capital, or the lack ther of, plays into this. Read Vance’s book. He goes into some detail on that.

 

[Cypress]

I don’t think though that you’re looking at the role social capital, or the lack ther of, plays into this. Read Vance’s book. He goes into some detail on that.

You're right, I should check it out.

 

[StoneByStone]

That sounds very plausible to me.

So, according to this premise, modern conservatism is not a coherent political philosophy - it is a manifestation of petty grievances resentful conservatives hold against liberals.

I think Conservativism has never really been a coherent political philosophy. As the name implies, Conservatives want to "conserve" society exactly the way it is. It doesn't make sense that Conservatives are both against abortion and against programs that help children. But to them, it's not about consistency, it's just about preventing change.
The part about petty grievances against Liberals does seem new, but I'm sure it's always been a part of Conservatism too. It's just that now, with the internet making Social Justice so visible, it's become a much bigger part of the Right.

 

[StoneByStone]

It was never Obamacare that turned the Republicans into a hate group- it was the fact that they never got over the fact that the Democrats elected a Black man to be their president that turned their party into a White Nationalist hate group.

If that was true, the GOP wouldn't have supported Ben Carson and Herman Cain. Neither of them were qualified in the slightest to be president, so it's not like they were so great, Republicans just had to ignore their race.
And what's a Republican's favorite talking point these days? dEmS aRe ThE rEaL rAcIsTs!!!!

 

[Bourdeaux Nights]

I have a this video class on my watch list, partly because I decided I need to learn how it is possible that conservatives could have turned into fan boys of a shockingly dim witted and incompetent Reality TV host. What is it about Trumpf that inspires them to spend countless hours of their lived defending him, and providing cover for him?

The conservative tradition isn't about preserving old morals, it's about preserving the playing field, and power structure of the past. Trump essentially gives the idea you can be on top, and still have the etiquette, and tact of an adolescent. They sure aren't, if actual children seem more reasonable then they do.

 

[StoneByStone]

The conservative tradition isn't about preserving old morals, it's about preserving the playing field, and power structure of the past. Trump essentially gives the idea you can be on top, and still have the etiquette, and tact of an adolescent. They sure aren't, if actual children seem more reasonable then they do.

I think it's about preserving both the morals and the power structure. Anything new is seen as a path to degeneracy, especially to people in small religious towns.
As for Trump's behavior, I think it's more about the way he pisses off everyone Conservatives hate. SJW cucks and the establishment that supposedly gives in to them.

 

[Cypress]

The conservative tradition isn't about preserving old morals, it's about preserving the playing field, and power structure of the past. Trump essentially gives the idea you can be on top, and still have the etiquette, and tact of an adolescent. They sure aren't, if actual children seem more reasonable then they do.

That's a good insight.

I have had a similar discussion with teabaggers before. The teabagger premise was that things like support for NAFTA, support for trickledown tax cuts, support for privatization of education and highways is what makes one conservative.

I have always maintained those are mere policy preferences held by limited numbers of people.

What really defines conservatism, ideologically- and this is alluded to by the professor who teaches this class - is an affinity for tradition, hierarchy, presumptive authority, and an aversion to reform, radical change, and an aversion to the enfranchisement of all citizens and stakeholders.

And with hierarchy, orthodoxy, and tradition, naturally comes a preference for the hegemony of traditional institutions, traditional power-relationships, and the preservation of customary monied interests.

 

[Bourdeaux Nights]

I think it's about preserving both the morals and the power structure. Anything new is seen as a path to degeneracy, especially to people in small religious towns.
As for Trump's behavior, I think it's more about the way he pisses off everyone Conservatives hate. SJW cucks and the establishment that supposedly gives in to them.

Many of the old time Conservatives, see the old times as, a kind of Leave It To Beaver dreamscape. They are delusional, as to what that means, for women, and minorities. They also don't realize that America isn't that country anymore. We don't make all this stuff, and have jobs everywhere. They have to compete with everyone in the job market now, and when their skills lack, they think they are victimized. Unfortunately, the grunt work where they shined, doesn't need them anymore, more often then not. They need someone to program, and fix operating, and computer systems.

 

[Cypress]

Burke, Tradition, and the French Revolution: Learn about the ideas of Edmund Burke, the Whig politician whose Reflections on the Revolution in France is regarded by many Conservatives as the founding text of their political creed. His book, written after the conflict's early stages, counseled respect for tradition and avoidance of radical change.

My investigations into this line of knowledge seem to confirm what I know about the conservative tradition through both intuition and experience.

Conservatism is a profoundly skeptical, cynical, negative, anti-utopian and pessimistic tradition.

Edmund Burke was apparently heavily influenced by Scottish philosopher David Hume. Hume was a noted skeptic, an anti-reformist, a person who stood against the grain of utopian optimism that dominated the intellectual traditions of the early modern era of the 17th and early 18th centuries.