Conservatism and Intellectuals

Promoted from John Norris’ Appalachian Scribe.

Lots of debate lately about the role of intellectuals in the conservative movement. Anyone who’s been paying attention has surely noted the movement’s swing in a more populist direction. Notably, we have Rush Limbaugh calling out intellectuals for daring criticize Sarah Palin and Tennessee GOP Chair Robin Smith bashing “intellectual snobs”.

Now, nothing I am about to say should be construed as an endorsement of everything intellectual. As Thomas Sowell points out, intellectuals have been wrong countless times over the years. But to imply that intellectuals have no place in the GOP is not the way to success.

It is ironic that conservatism has become so populist. This is a new phenomena. If you read the writings of conservative leaders of the past (William F. Buckley and Russell Kirk, for instance), you will find constant warnings about the dangers of excess democracy. Such concerns should not be surprising. Conservatism is at least partially rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition which teaches us that we live in a fallen world and that human nature is essentially bad. Believing this, why then should we believe in the infallibility of the masses?

If you are more secular, then you should also appreciate that conservatism is rooted in our founding documents and in the political ideals of our Founding Fathers. Our Founders did not give us a democracy; they gave us a republic (something most seem to have forgotten). If you read their writings, you again you will find warnings about the dangers of too much democracy. The conservative populist cannot find much support here either.

Still, if one wants to win elections, one must appeal to the common man. Albert Jay Nock and Russell Kirk are great, but it’s hard to build a winning campaign on pessimism. So some comprises must be made, and intellectual ideas must be made practical. We can debate about political philosophy until the cows come home, but, unless we win an election, we can do little about it. The Barry Goldwaters and Ronald Reagans of the world were able to put ideas into action, and helped move America rightward. Both conservative intellectuals and populists should be able to agree that this is a great thing.

So if the GOP is to win again, it must keep both its intellectuals and its populists. Yes, intellectuals can be snobbish and yes they are sometimes wrong, but ideas can only spring from thoughts. If a movement is to succeed, it must have new ideas.