philosophicalconservatism

[philosophicalconservatism]

“I have found that to make a contented slave, it is necessary to make a thoughtless one. It is necessary to darken his moral and mental vision as far as possible to annihilate the power of reason.”

— Frederick  Douglas, Narrative Of the Life Of Frederick Douglas 

[philosophicalconservatism]

It must be admitted that the tendency of the human race toward liberty is largely thwarted... This is greatly due to a fatal desire -- learned from the teachings of antiquity -- that our writers on public affairs have in common: They desire to set themselves above mankind in order to arrange, organize, and regulate it according to their fancy.

Frederic Bastiat (1801-1850) French political thinker.

[philosophicalconservatism]

“Always walk through life as if you have something to learn and you will.”

— Vernon Howard (via philosophicalconservatism)

[philosophicalconservatism]

I don't adhere to the belief that everyone is morally obligated to raise a family; some people are called to contribute to society in other very meaningful ways. But that is not what we are dealing with in these large scale social trends away from marriage and family creation that we see. What we are dealing with are social sensibilities that have been poisoned by radical ideologies against the ideals of marriage and family. We are dealing with millions of people that would be naturally inclined to marry in a different social environment, and are now drifting in the direction of an empty and lonely life. They are not opposed to the idea of having a family and children in principle (as they will tell you) but a narcissistic cultural hardwiring has sabotaged their ability to actually live that out

A 37 year old woman who has always said that she doesn't want marriage and children is one thing, that is perfectly fine. But one who simply finds herself in that predicament over time and then needs to justify it to herself and others by over-advertising how supremely happy she supposedly is being alone is a sad thing.

[philosophicalconservatism]

“Let a crown be placed thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarcy, that in America the law is King. For as in absolute governments the King is law, so in free countries the law ought to be King; and there ought to be no other.”  -Thomas Paine

“We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.” — Benjamin Franklin (at the signing of the Declaration of Independence)

“There! His Majesty can now read my name without glasses. And he can double the reward on my head!” - John Hancock (upon singing  the Declaration of Independence)

  We began a contest for liberty and independence ill provided with the means for war, relying on our patriotism to supply the deficiency. We expected to encounter many wants and distresses, and we should not shrink from them when they happen- George Washington

“[T]he flames kindled on the Fourth of July 1776, have spread over too much of the globe to be extinguished by the feeble engines of despotism; on the contrary, they will consume these engines and all who work them.” – Thomas Jefferson

“They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave….. Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”  - Patrick Henry

“I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm’s way.”  ― John Paul Jones

“The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors: they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us…” - Samuel Adams

But the Day is past. The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. -John Adams.

[philosophicalconservatism]

There is a certain natural affinity between the idea of income equality and the idea of totalitarianism.  What is it that makes a market a market in the first place?  A market is characterized by differential values, and value is by its very nature a comparative term. Something can only have “value” if there are also other things of greater and lesser value. Therefore the idea of perfect income equality is the negation of the market; the negation of the idea of value itself. And once the concept of relative value is dispensed with anything is possible; one can transform stones into diamonds with a decree. Totalitarianism means political omnipotence;  it is the ability to politically create something out of nothing. It is the negation of all objective value. The will of the tyrant becomes everything.  The recognition of differences in value means that which is entirely counterfeit cannot endure; that no man’s completely arbitrary whim can rule.

[philosophicalconservatism]

The alarm over the nomination of Socialist Zohran Mamdani by the Democratic party for mayor of NYC, should be tempered by the realization that only 23 percent of eligible voters even showed up to the polls to vote. And the reason for that is obvious. He is running against the disgraced former governor of the state, and one of the most unpopular mayors in years. There was literally no enthusiastic support on the other side.

But the unusually crowded field in the NYC mayoral general election may give him a success that he didn't have coming.

[philosophicalconservatism]

On The Protests

We should view pro-immigration protests which involve the brandishing of foreign flags and the burning of American flags as not only deeply disturbing, but upside down. American Immigration is supposed to be about a desire within foreign born individuals to adopt the American way of life, and allegiance to American institutions. To the extent that this is not the case, it should not take place. That is why we have a legal immigration process. Now the American left wants us to take for granted that this is what every illegal immigrant desires. But that is an irrational belief.

Let us think logically about it for a moment. Why would a person who had no particular interest in, or allegiance to the legacy of the American nation not attempt to cross the border into the country solely in order to find work if they had no other way to feed themselves? It is logical to conclude that they would do so, and with some degree of frequency. And so it is also reasonable to assume that many that have been allowed into the country indiscriminately and without any screening whatsoever, probably lack any sense of allegiance to the U.S. Does what we see in the current protests encourage or discourage this view?

If someone wants us to assume by default that American patriotism is something that is present in every native born American citizen that is one thing, but to assume that it is present by default within any inhabitant of the Earth the moment they cross the border into the United States is absurd and irresponsible. And it is also by the way disrespectful to American patriotism to treat it as something so cheap and ubiquitous.

[philosophicalconservatism]

“Those who have more power are liable to sin more; no theorem in geometry is more certain than this.”

— Lord Acton (1834-1902)  English historian and politician 

[philosophicalconservatism]

Reminder.

The historical era in which human poverty has decreased the most has been the era of the greatest income inequality.

[philosophicalconservatism]

“To be of use to the world is the only way to be happy.”

— Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) Danish author.

[philosophicalconservatism]

“Freedom is hazardous, but some restraints are worse.”

—

Warren E Burger (1907-1995)  U.S. Supreme Court Justice

And if someone is selling you a version of freedom that is not hazardous it is a counterfeit.

[philosophicalconservatism]

If it wasn't for Trump's extremely unwise tariff regime the Republican party would be sitting pretty right now. The Democratic party is still completely committed to a politically self destructive radicalism as we can see by its response to the anti-ICE riots in California

[philosophicalconservatism]

“A law is not a law without coercion behind it….”

—

James Garfield (1831-1881 ) U.S.  president.

Which means that there should never ever be  a casual attitude about the proposing of new laws. The decision to create new laws should always be undertaken with care and caution; and as infrequently as possible.  

[philosophicalconservatism]

[Liberty] does not consist in having a just master, but in having none."

Cicero (106 B.C-43) B.C. Roman statesman and scholar

[philosophicalconservatism]

It is remarkable that within the Left-wing mindset “ethnic culture” (which is always man-made) is something that individuals are to be permanently defined by from the moment of birth (thus the existence of notions such as cultural appropriation) while one’s status as a “man” or “woman” is seen as up in the air and unsettled.

[philosophicalconservatism]

“There’s no point in comparing an actual, operating system with an ideal system that doesn’t exist.”

— Milton Friedman  (1912-2006) American economist.