Posted by
JDComments on Saturday, December 23, 2006 1:39:32 PM
History has proven that government does not change the nature of men, but rather Men's nature determines the government they have.
In my ongoing quest to define their differences, perhaps this statement most clearly reveals how Conservatism's worldview is so diametrically opposed to Liberalism's. Even though Rousseau, an icon of the Enlightenment and one of the touchstone's of Liberal thought believed that government corrupts Natural Man, through the centuries the Left has defied this tenet and tried time and again to perfect men by imposing laws and regulations upon them. And it has failed over and over again.
Laws do not change men, but rather are only effective when they reflect the consensus views of the citizenry. Legislation that defies norms are usually ignored or defied, and as Prohibition proved, have consequences which are contrary to the intended effects. Men's nature does not change because Nancy Pelosi or Chuck Shumer declares it should. Hubris is an ugly attribute.
So how do we progress and change? By generations of exposure to the values of our families and neighborhoods and religions, and even philosophies which we ingest and internalize over time, constantly testing them and evaluating their worth. And by living and experiencing the world , and allowing what we learn to make adjustments to who we are.
In other words, as Jesus said 2000 years ago, the Kingdom of Heaven is inside us, and has nothing to do with Caesar's regime. And when each of us brings that Kingdom forth, only then will the external world change.
This is what all Conservatives understand as they seek to retain and cherish what we have learned over generations and which we modify only after long and careful evaluation which always takes into account what experience has shown us to be. And this is what Liberals refuse to accept, as they believe they can make us into what they want by just declaring it so. They are futilely waiting for Caesar to change us.
Merry Christmas to you all.
JD