P. J. O'Rourke on Conservatism and Libertarianism

The Atlantic Online ^ | August 14, 2002 | P. J. O'Rourke

[Sam Cree]

"But in its better forms, conservatism simply says that the structures of society, both civil and political, religious and so on, are the result of a long series of trial-and-error experiments by millions of human beings, not only all over the world, but through time."

Hayek discourses about this at length in The Constitution of Liberty," though somehow I'm pretty sure you're conversant with it. It's one of the arguments against the "government will run everything," top down rationalism, of the Left. O'Rourke certainly has a talent for boiling things down, and humorously.

"It's the reason why I'm both a libertarian and a conservative. "

I consider libertarianism to be a form of conservatism, specifically the form that strives to conserve the values of individual freedom that our founding fathers envisioned for us. Too bad the "Libertarian" Party gets sidetracked into focusing on weird issues. I agree that the ideal of "individual" freedom that the Left so despises seems also to have been forgotten by many conservatives.

[beckett]

O'Rourke mentions Max Beerbohm, who is included in my favorite quote file for a remark he made about Freud's core theory of human psychology:

"A tense and peculiar family, the Oedipuses, were they not?"

[beckett]

I like this one:

The free market is ugly and stupid, like going to the mall; the unfree market is just as ugly and just as stupid, except there's nothing in the mall and if you don't go there they shoot you.

PJ O'Rourke

[Kermit]

Only in America (possibly England and Iceland) can one be both a libertarian and a conservative. Everywhere else in the world, what you're conserving is not pro-liberty or pro-private property.

[j_tull]

Is that the same article where he expressed the $3 trillion price tag as "enough money to take a NY City taxi to Uranus and back, 4 times!"?

[weikel]

Bump

[discostu]

My favorite comes from the preface to Give War a Chance, where he admits to being a draft dodger (from memory, please excuse mistakes):
and because I didn't go somebody had to go in my place. To that person, whoever you are, I hope you made it back in one piece and have led a life filled with joy since then. And when that guy in uniform punched me in the face for being a no good commie faggot I hope that was you.

[Physicist]

"Never strike anyone so old, small, or weak that verbal abuse would have sufficed." -- P.J. O'Rourke

[bvw]

Molto Grazie!

[Wordsmith]

PJ bump

[Protagoras]

Great "O'rourkisms",,,Thanks

[cmak9]

"Only in America (possibly England and Iceland) can one be both a libertarian and a conservative. Everywhere else in the world, what you're conserving is not pro-liberty or pro-private property."

My nomination for quote of the year.

[mustapha mond]

"In its' worse forms, conservatism is a matter of I hate strangers". O'Rourke = Dumba$$ --MM

[discostu]

Post #33, good call. Take an attaboy out of petty cash.

[mustapha mond]

There are two kinds of Republicans: Conservatives and RINOS. Shalala. --MM

[fporretto]

Well, Mustapha, I would normally give you a soliloquy, but, seeing that you're a Supporting Cast character from a novel by a notorious Leftist social engineer, I'll keep this short:

1. I agree with O'Rourke's statement. There have been several outbreaks of that kind of xenophobic conservatism, most notably the "Know-Nothing" and Buchananite movements.
2. Differing with someone can earn you respect if you can present an argument of substance against his position. If you merely insult him, there's no reason for anyone to pay attention to you.
3. It's high time for strawberry-flavored soma.

Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit the Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com

[mustapha mond]

fporretto, I hate to tell you I'm not the real Mustafa Mond. If I was I would give you some soma and send you to bed. Perhaps I will send you to Iceland. In any case P.J. can't attack conservatives with a Goron statement and expect to get away with it. He will be punished by having me call him a name. Libertarian would be cruel so I will call him a weenie. Made the Ford be with you. --MM

[truenospinzone]

Hey, wouldja look at that - I call one right every once in a while... ;->

[truenospinzone]

Please see my #9, and thank you for helping my prophecy come to life...

[mustapha mond]

It does not matter if the quote is in or out of context. Thems fighting words. --MM