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ChristopherAlgoo Red Oni from New York City Since: Jan, 2001
Red Oni
#1: Sep 28th 2011 at 8:16:31 AM
I just read Conscience of a Liberal by Krugman, which is a fantastic read full of data and history. I'm looking for something similar that argues the Conservative view - I want to see if they have any good arguments. Thanks!
Those who accept their fate find happiness; those who defy it, glory.
DarkConfidant Since: Aug, 2011
#2: Sep 28th 2011 at 8:19:56 AM
I would imagine that a good place to start might be Barry Goldwater's Conscience of a Conservative (from which Krugman derives his book's title).
Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#3: Sep 28th 2011 at 8:36:09 AM
Ah Goldwater. One of the last few truly respectable conservatives who I respect. Pity he and most of his ilk are in the grave or irrelevant.
RadicalTaoist scratching at .8, just hopin' from the #GUniverse Since: Jan, 2001
scratching at .8, just hopin'
#4: Sep 28th 2011 at 10:09:40 AM
By today's standards American conservatives would consider Goldwater a pinko socialist.
lordGacek Since: Jan, 2001
#5: Sep 28th 2011 at 10:42:43 AM
Well, why not the classics? Try Edmund Burke.
Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#6: Sep 28th 2011 at 12:40:32 PM
They'd consider the original owner of the National Review a pinko socialist too for having liberal friends.
Because valuing the opinion of people across the aisle is sick and wrong.
edited 28th Sep '11 12:44:15 PM by Midgetsnowman
Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#7: Sep 28th 2011 at 12:55:56 PM
@ Radical Taoist: By the sounds of it, I guess they'd consider most of the rest of the world's Conservative Parties Socialist as well?
Keep Rolling On
Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#8: Sep 28th 2011 at 12:56:36 PM
Yes.
To put it in perspective, our "left", the democratic party, is Center-right leaning by european standards
Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#9: Sep 28th 2011 at 1:12:04 PM
I know — from the British point of view at least the Right in America makes the BNP look like, well...moderates — and things that are major issues there, are things dealing with things other countries had solved years ago.
Although, due to Americanitis, some might be coming back due to links between some parts of the American Right and other parts of the British Right (at least), but are still marginal.
It just seems like another planet from here — I'm having trouble relating to it.
edited 28th Sep '11 1:13:21 PM by Greenmantle
Keep Rolling On
BobbyG vigilantly taxonomish from England Since: Jan, 2001
vigilantly taxonomish
#10: Sep 28th 2011 at 1:19:11 PM
Drifting off topic here...
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BobbyG vigilantly taxonomish from England Since: Jan, 2001
vigilantly taxonomish
#11: Sep 28th 2011 at 1:20:39 PM
On topic, seconding Burke, if you're interested in more traditional conservatism; while I don't agree with much of what he says, his style is very readable for the period and there's no denying his considerable influence.
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ForlornDreamer from United States Since: Apr, 2011
#12: Sep 28th 2011 at 1:43:47 PM
If you're looking for insight into how many among the modern American conservative movement process information and contemplate the world around them, you should check out Mark Levin's Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto. Warning: it's not pretty.
joyflower Since: Dec, 1969
#13: Sep 28th 2011 at 1:53:18 PM
I have that book at my mom's house.
edited 28th Sep '11 1:54:48 PM by joyflower
Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#14: Sep 28th 2011 at 1:57:44 PM
wow. Just the editorial review for it makes me want to burn it.
JosefBugman Since: Nov, 2009
#15: Sep 28th 2011 at 2:01:06 PM
It is important to read other peoples views in order to get an insight into their way of thinking and seeing the world. Even if it DOES make you want to shake them by the goddamn throat.
I think it might be best to see if you could find a well informed and intelligent conservative to bounce ideas off from the Kruggman book. I find that that's generally a better way to learn about a movement.
edited 28th Sep '11 2:03:06 PM by JosefBugman
Erock Proud Canadian from Toronto Since: Jul, 2009
Proud Canadian
#16: Sep 28th 2011 at 2:01:48 PM
American conservatimsm hasn't worked. So I don't get how you could "prove" it will.
edited 28th Sep '11 2:03:57 PM by Erock
If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.
Jimmmyman10 cannot into space from polan Since: Mar, 2011 Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
cannot into space
#17: Sep 28th 2011 at 2:02:59 PM
If you are a strong Christian, you can read some C. S. Lewis.
But then again, that's my answer to everything.
("I need something to help with my arthritis."
"Read some C. S. Lewis and call me in the morning.")
Go play Kentucky Route Zero. Now.
JosefBugman Since: Nov, 2009
#18: Sep 28th 2011 at 2:06:49 PM
Its neccesary to at least examine the viewpoints and see the sources used, even if you disagree with it, otherwise how can you ask people to do the same for your views?
I, personally, cannot read C.S. Lewis, ever since reading The Last Battle I want to go back in time and strike him upside the head with a plush lion toy.
Perhaps "the wealth of nations" as well? It's certainly an important economic book in modern conservatism.
USAF713 I changed accounts. from the United States Since: Sep, 2010
I changed accounts.
#19: Sep 28th 2011 at 2:08:48 PM
C. S. Lewis is interesting, at least. I guess Rand might be at least somewhat intriguing. The Fountainhead and Anthem are, anyhow. Not so much for Atlas Shrugged. That's all I have off the top of my head, though I'm not much for political reading...
I am now known as Flyboy.
BobbyG vigilantly taxonomish from England Since: Jan, 2001
vigilantly taxonomish
#20: Sep 28th 2011 at 2:11:32 PM
^^ What was wrong with The Last Battle? A little preachy for a children's novel, I'll grant, but anything apart from that?
Though what I've read of Lewis pertained more to Christian ethics than conservatism per se.
edited 28th Sep '11 2:11:51 PM by BobbyG
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JosefBugman Since: Nov, 2009
#21: Sep 28th 2011 at 2:13:50 PM
I don't know, its just when the dwarves go off at the end made me so angry. You know? The sort of anger that just makes it really hard to continue reading any further? I dunno, maybe its because I like dwarves and what they represented far more than Aslan.
Indeed, we are getting OT, I apoligise.
BlixtySlycat |like a boss| from Driving the Rad Hazard Since: Aug, 2011
|like a boss|
#22: Sep 28th 2011 at 2:14:12 PM
Just given the book review here
Author and conservative talk radio host Levin (Rescuing Sprite, Men in Black) takes on the Statist, a liberal straw man, in this collection of polemics against left-wing tenets (like "economic and social justice"), touchstones (like the New Deal) and institutions (strongholds of liberal thought like academia and the mainstream media). With "an insatiable appetite for control" and a veil of "moral indignation," Levin finds the Statist not only in congressional Democrats and President Obama's White House, but in "neo-Statists" like compassionate conservative Michael Gerson, and the Fed and Treasury under G.W. Bush. Many of Levin's arguments reiterate familiar tropes, including a "strict constructionist" view of the Constitution that sees Social Security as patently un-American. Predictably, Levin opposes the extension of health benefits, derides global warming (implicating Obama's "global warming czar" as a leader in "the Socialist International's Commission for a Sustainable World Society"), and fights back against immigrants, whom the Statist portrays "as universally more virtuous than the citizen." For those new to the Tea Party, Levin offers a handy roundup of conservative talking points, but anyone paying attention to talk radio over the past few years won't learn anything new.
I'd say this is a decent roundup of contemporary Tea Party-style conservatism.
But that's just a guess, I brand myself as neither Liberal nor Conservative and generally don't read books by staunch authors saying they're either.
go ahead and do every stupid thing you can imagine
BobbyG vigilantly taxonomish from England Since: Jan, 2001
vigilantly taxonomish
#23: Sep 28th 2011 at 2:17:17 PM
Though that review is rather obviously written by somebody who disagrees with the book; some of the quotations from more conservative reviewers are rather more positive.
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USAF713 I changed accounts. from the United States Since: Sep, 2010
I changed accounts.
#24: Sep 28th 2011 at 2:19:12 PM
I tend to look at evaluations of political writing less on "do I agree?" and more "is the argument and writing good?"
I am now known as Flyboy.
BlixtySlycat |like a boss| from Driving the Rad Hazard Since: Aug, 2011
|like a boss|
#25: Sep 28th 2011 at 2:20:54 PM
Bobby: Well, in general, political manifestos tend to be rated on whether or not the person writing the review agrees with the book or not. I simply picked a review that I found the most likely.
go ahead and do every stupid thing you can imagine
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