Power, not principle, drives GOP
Donald Trump’s rambunctious personality and numerous lies have compelled many conservatives to assert he is not one of them.
Jeb Bush, former Republican governor of Florida, during the 2016 campaign asserted in a town hall meeting, “If people think Donald Trump is a conservative, prove it to me. I mean, really.” In his book, Conscience of a Conservative, Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake denounced Trump in the name of conservatism. In 2016, the major organ of conservative thought, the National Review, issued a publication, Against Trump, with essays by 22 prominent conservative thinkers denying Trump’s conservative pedigree. The editorial declared, “Donald Trump is a menace to American conservatism.” Nevertheless, in policies and ideology, Trump is a genuine conservative.
This emerges by comparing conservatives centuries ago with contemporary conservatives, including Trump. Russell Kirk, a leading 20th-century conservative, wrote about Edmund Burke (172997): “Almost by definition … the principal conservatives in the Western world have been conscious or unconscious disciples of Burke.” Trump and today’s Republicans embody the essence of Burke’s teachings. Burke praised nothing more than old traditions and customs, including class structures.
William Buckley, perhaps the leading 20th-century American conservative — who founded the major conservative organ, National Review — supported fascist Spanish general Francisco Franco, who overthrew the Spanish Republic, because Franco would undo reforms giving power to lesser classes. We know Republicans and Trump have no problems with supporting dictators.
Conservatives identify liberty with inequality. “Our liberties,” Burke asserted, included the right of kings and aristocrats to dominate. Russell Kirk wrote, “In any civilization, there must survive classes … and many sorts of inequality.” That’s what today’s Republicans, including Trump, profess.
Republicans, including Trump, worship the wealthy and the inequalities of capitalism. Their tax “reforms” virtually always mean giving more to the wealthy at the expense of the rest. Thomas Paine, noting the profusion of moral and religious principles spouted by Edmund Burke, wrote: “It is power, and not principles, that Mr. Burke venerates.” This would apply to today’s conservatives.
Thus, virtually all Republicans — including Sen. Flake — voted to confirm Supreme Court nominee, rightist Judge Brett Kavanaugh, who exhibited perjury, arrogance, bullying and a crass anger at being exposed. Supreme Court power was the real issue for Republicans.
Rightists and conservatives don’t believe that ordinary people are capable of democracy or participating in power. “Our forefathers,” wrote Burke, “acted under a strong impression of the ignorance and fallibility of mankind.” “Human nature suffers irremediably from certain faults,” wrote Russell Kirk.
Hence, there’s no point in changing society, human beings, not existing institutions, being the problem. Burke denounced democracy. Today’s Republican/conservatives love the word “democracy” — but abhor its egalitarian essence and seek to torpedo its basic pillars — women’s rights, labor unions, universal suffrage and the rule of the people rather than of money. The conservative dislike of equality is expressed by the sanctification of property, which means sanctification of inequality. Burke wrote that “the people … must respect that property of which they cannot partake.” The deprived can find their consolation in the next life.
Today’s Republicans’ contempt for human beings — unless they’re billionaires — is palpable. Trump has lied to the country repeatedly and cynically since he took office — without losing any Republican support.
Conservatives assume the inferiority of nonwhites and women. That’s what long-standing traditions would require. Trump is sending dog whistles to racists and sexists — with the full support of Republicans. Republicans today are still sexists who want to deny women the right to their own procreative bodies. Trump explained that women should be treated like “dirt.” To define conservatism in only one sentence: The rationalization of class domination.