As for Teddy Roosevelt's record, let us begin with anti-trust legislation. The worst business combines and trusts of the era engaged in bribery, extortion, sabotage, and highly destructive market manipulations. That is not capitalism but criminality.
As for the national park system, is that really an issue? Considering that the land was federally owned, Teddy Roosevelt dedicating choice parts for use as federal parks is plainly constitutional. Or do you think that the Louisiana Purchase and other national territorial acquisitions ought to be undone as unconstitutional?
Until Republican Progressive era reforms, it was an open and common practice for major corporations to deliver monthly satchels of cash to members of Congress. Even after being outlawed, the practice continued for many decades. The father of a friend had such a job as a bright law school graduate during the Depression.
Conservatism cannot prosper as a political philosophy if it cannot address problems and fashion remedies and reforms. This brings us to a paradox. As di Lampedusa offered in his great conservative novel The Leopard, "If we want everything to stay as it is, everything has to change." Conservatism at its best accepts the necessity of change so that what is essential remains alive and vital.
“One must read conservative commentary on the Progressive era with care.”
I do not read conservative commentary on the Progressive era.
I go to the original sources, and I then create audio books out of this filth so its easier to spread around to people who confuse modern “conservative commentary” for enlightened thought on the matter.
Like this one:
https://librivox.org/the-promise-of-american-life-herbert-croly/
I can assure you, the progressives in the progressive era are even more rotten than any modern “conservative commentary” you have read will describe. Go ahead; read it, listen to it, all 18 and a half hours of it. You’ll see. There’s no confusion and there won’t be any on your part either.
Precious few of modern “conservative commentary” takes the time to show how progressives have been wrong for the last 120 years, so I have little time for them. That won’t be my last solo audio book. These progressives have survived and thrived for far too long by keeping themselves in the shadows. Now they’re on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn2CjsB0ifk
If there’s one thing I ! DO !!! have it within my power to do, that’s to remove their shadows so they have nowhere to hide.
As for Teddy Roosevelt’s record, where we need to begin is price fixing. We should follow that up with the 16th/17th amendments. Perhaps let’s delve into his monarchist pen-and-phone attitude with the executive orders flowing from his kingly scepter. Let’s have a real discussion, and not this comfort food.
Not my intent to spam you, so on that level let me offer a bit of an apology.
In any case, I posted this a few days ago. This is me, not reading any “conservative commentary” and instead going to the fountain.
How long ago did progressives start using American history to attack the Founding Fathers?
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4229764/posts
I quote an original source, page 67, I do not have any need to rely on the commentariat who most of the time get it wrong.