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"He fed socialist communitarian philosophy to several generations of young readers."
Balderdash. His change to libertarianism came long before his novels became popular (I think somewhat after he married Virginia). In that, he was much like Reagan, whose philsophy underwent a change after marrying Nancy). His novels have ALL fostered individual freedom and liberty---not "communitarianims".

The comparison to Reagan is a good one. Heinlein preceded Reagan and Goldwater in promoting a libertarian form of conservatism that rejected compulsory "traditional morality" in favor of personal liberty and personal responsibility. To call this "communitarian" is completely absurd, when indeed it is cultural conservatism that is a form of communitarianism. Indeed, literate cultural conservatives hate Heinlein for the same reason their less educated brethren disdain Reagan, they separated their pet causes from the basic philosophies of the Right, and indeed many of us not only do not embrace them, we oppose them.

The only novel I can think of that even comes remotely close to a sort of "communitarian" point of view is "Starship Troopers", in which the right to vote is restricted to those citizens who have voluntarily served a term of "government service".

Not even there. Service was 100% voluntary and even, to a degree, discouraged. Heinlein once said that a nation which needs conscription to defend itself does not deserve to be defended.

Growing up, he was my main conservative influence (along with Goldwater) as well as my main agnostic influence.

-Eric

"Not even there. Service was 100% voluntary and even, to a degree, discouraged. Heinlein once said that a nation which needs conscription to defend itself does not deserve to be defended."

Well, I agree that the connection is tenuous, but voting in ST "is" related to "community service". And in REAL "communitarianism" (as opposed to the new version, which is just communism with a name change), service to the community IS voluntary (REAL communitarianism was practiced in the US---think barn-raising (and school and church-raising) as examples).

Ronald Reagan's philosophy didn't really change so much as he simply became aware of the depth of the communist conspiracy to take over Hollywood. As president of the Screen Actor's Guild, his efforts to protect the Guild and the industry from the brazen and thuggish take-over attempts...including gun shots at his house and death threats...Reagan had the scales fall from his eyes. Too bad FDR never had a similar experience, who apparently went to his grave still jolly over the existence of all the soviet agents in his close circle.

Today, with the likes of Ed Asner as recent past president of the Screen Actors Guild, and the slobbish Michael Moore being a Hollywood celebrity...and the unheard plethora of Jane Fonda types, from Alec Baldwin and Barbara Streisand, one would have to conclude that the communists have finally completed the capture of Hollywood, to the extent that they can now ostracize and blacklist NON-communists.