Saturday, December 29, 2007

Conservatives Without Conscience

John Dean in his 2006 book of the above title states that what has driven him is the realization that our government has become largely authoritarian. From this premise, Dean proposed and documented two key points:
1) what is currently described as the “conservative movement” bears virtually no resemblance to Goldwater’s conservatism, and has nothing to do with restraining government power or preserving historical values. Instead, it has transformed into an authoritarian movement which largely attracts personality types characterized by a desire and need to submit to and follow authority.
2) because those who submit to authority necessarily relinquish their own conscience (in favor of serving the conscience of their leader and/or their movement), those who are part of this movement are capable of acts which a healthy and normal conscience ought to preclude.

No comments: