Objectivists Bury Neoconservatism

     I chose to read Neoconservatism: An Obituary for an Idea by the Objectivists: C. Bradley Thompson and Yaron Brook to see if it would help me to reflect upon the Republican contenders campaigning to become the nominee for President.  The book is an in-depth commentary on the history and philosophic intricacies of neoconservatives--such as Pat Buchanan and John McCain which the book mentions by name.  I identify Jeb Bush as fitting much of the neoconservative persuasion.  The final chapter draws some enlightening conclusions about their nature:

"Politically, the neocons combine the worst vices of both liberalism and conservatism.  Whereas American conservatives want to regulate man's spiritual or moral concerns (e.g., abortion, pornography, drugs, education) and liberals want to regulate man's material concerns (e.g., property, production, trade), the neocons want to regulate both--but moderately so."(pgs. 241-242)

"The neocons are, we fear, laying the groundwork for a new kind of soft despotism that will surely pave the way one day for despotism of the hard variety."(pg. 242)

The book explains that author C. Bradley Thompson lived for many years in a neoconservative environment--until he finally broke ranks.  Personally, I wrote a lot of blogs that had the neoconservative philosophy significantly present back when I first began blogging about international events in 2005.  This book has really helped me reform my philosophy to respect American values such as private property even in a time that threatens to break out into war.  While it is true that a country must have a military for protection, and, I understand too well the truth of "peace through strength", to: build up American forces, project power, and maneuver all over the globe, but never actually achieve a decisive end, is not only pointless, strategically, it destroys trillions of dollars worth of individual Americans' private property.

Neoconservatism; An Obituary for an Idea can be purchased at The Ayn Rand Institute eStore.

Paul Wharton
Special thanks to Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY)