Neo-Conservatism: Cult of American Ascendancy or Moral Bankruptcy?

[No Exit]

Neo-conservatism: The Cult of American Ascendancy or Moral Bankruptcy?

by Habib Siddiqui

(Saturday November 05 2005)


The modern-day neo-conservatism comes from the far left - a group historically identified as former Trotskyites,<1> and was introduced to America in the 1960s by Professor Leo Strauss of the University of Chicago. The ideas of President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09) were quite similar to many of the views of present-day neocons.

(snip)

Strauss was an unabashed critic of modern liberalism and was interested in governments taking a greater interest in the problem of human excellence and political virtue. Through his writings, Strauss constantly raised the question of how, and to what extent, freedom and excellence can coexist.<7>

(snip)

Strauss believed Nazism to be a nihilistic reaction to the ungodly and liberal nature of the Weimar Republic. He wanted religion to impose moral law on the masses who would otherwise be out of control. At the same time, he stressed that the rulers need not be bound by it.

(snip)

Strauss, according to Drury, was not as obscure or as esoteric as his admirers pretend. There were certain indisputable themes in his work. The most underlying theme was the distinction between the ancients and the moderns. Drury writes, “According to Strauss, ancient philosophers (such as Plato) were wise and wily, but modern philosophers (such as Locke and other liberals) were foolish and vulgar. The ancients denied that there is any natural right to liberty. Human beings are born neither free nor equal. The natural human condition is not one of freedom, but of subordination. And in Strauss's estimation, they were right in thinking that there is only one natural right - the right of the superior to rule over the inferior - the master over the slave, the husband over the wife, and the wise few over the vulgar many.”<10> This dichotomy requires "perpetual deception" between the rulers and the ruled, according to Drury.

http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/22349

The article includes a long list of neoconservatives (which could also probably be called "a long list of Bush/Cheney administration friends and participants", and a list of their organizations.

[Village Idiot]

1. It can't be both?

Morally Bankrupt USAsian Ascendancy?

[No Exit]

2. Yeah, I guess it can,

although I get the feeling these neocons are in it for themselves, not for America. America just happens to be their home base--considering that they've taken over the government here. That's what happens when people elect a village idiot! We get people taking over the government and stuff! Sheesh!

Jesse Jackson is actually the one who said it best: "Stay outa the Bushes!"