(James Ostrowski is an attorney in Buffalo, New
York and author of Government Schools Are Bad for
Your Kids: What You Need to Know and Political Class Dismissed:
Essays Against Politics." His
latest book is Direct Citizen Action: How We
Can Win the Second American Revolution Without Firing a Shot. See his website.)
Why did conservatism fail in its duel
with the progressive state? First, conservatism is an incoherent and
ill-defined doctrine. It is difficult to defeat a powerful and appealing
set of ideas like progressivism with such a vague doctrine. Who will go
to the barricades for a mishmash? Few, apparently. Progressivism
offers a simple and very satisfying panacea for all human ills.
Conservatism offers hostility to that simple solution without offering up an
alternative vision.
Second, American conservatism is a reaction to
progressivism as opposed to a positive doctrine itself. It defines itself
as an attempt to slow down progressivism. As Mises argued, “conservatism
is an empty program. It is merely negative, rejecting any change.” Mises also asked rhetorically,
what do conservatives stand for?[3] In the battle for public opinion
between progressivism, which promises utopia on earth via the government and
cost-free as well, and conservatives who said either “No” or “slow down,” it is
no surprise that progressivism has defeated conservatism for decades and
especially currently