Conservatism: A Philosophy of Failure

A centuries-long portfolio of perishing promise

Second essay in A Conservatism Triptych.

Photo by Niclas Lundin on Unsplash

In 2019, I proposed that the word “conservative” was inappropriate for such reactionaries as Mitch McConnell, David Koch or Ted Cruz. A conservative, according to the definitions in most dictionaries, seeks to respect and conserve existing institutions and these individuals are seeking to destroy modern institutions. In Use Your Words, I suggested that a better term for these individuals would be “regressive”. While I still believe that we all benefit from using words based upon their actual dictionary definitions, I begin to wonder if the term “conservative” may actually be appropriate for the modern Republican. This applies, of course, if we could only understand that term in the context of repeated conservative failure.

The modern conservative in the U.S. is making absolutely no headway in the project to conserve and preserve existing traditions and institutions. In fact Mitch McConnell repudiates the traditions of the Senate and subverts them at every opportunity. Conservatives in Georgia, Florida and other U.S. states are thwarting the established tradition of free and fair election by making it increasingly difficult for the working class to vote. Matt Gaetz rejects the results of a certified…