Bryan Caplan calls for the end of state-intervention in marriage. Or close to it. He does this in part from a Men’s Rights perspective, trying to reverse changes feminism has made. It’s unlikely to get anywhere as when I proposed such a thing supposedly “traditionalist conservatives” deemed it insane. UPDATE: I just came across this old post from conservative Austin Bramwell arguing for my position against “libertarian” Ryan Sager. Of course it’s tricky saying Bramwell’s “for” anything, as most of his writing his simply critical of the conservative movement, the conservative canon and even paleocons (the only ones willing to publish him). That makes him more interesting than most to me.
On a completely different note, a long time ago I heard a song on Pandora that was the most remarkably miserable sounding country/Americana I’d heard. I forgot who it was and would periodically rack my brain trying to remember. Just now it got played again. It was Johnny Dowd.
September 17, 2008 at 9:20 am
‘Traditionalist conservatives’, in my experience, have no idea of what the traditions actually were.
The ‘tradition’ that is spoken of isn’t what society did, it’s the present tradition of what society did, the current stereotypes of the past, that are the issue.
Most ‘conservatives’ have no interest in the past. Their concern is with the immediate present’s perception of the past — it’s the social power and influence that perception grants that they’re interested in, not the reality.
September 17, 2008 at 10:14 am
Lawrence Auster (who I was referring to) often seems to think he’s the only “traditionalist conservative” and looks down on neo-conservatives (or “right liberals” as he calls them), but also dismays that Democrats aren’t like good old JFK, Truman and FDR…just like the neo-cons do!
September 17, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Speaking as one myself, I might point out that American Traditionalists have very few roots to sustain us.
And Lawrence Auster, (peace be upon him) has fewer than most.
American conservatism, from Randolph through Taft and on to Ron Paul really doesn’t have any intellectual basis older than Burke.
September 18, 2008 at 11:42 am
American conservatism, from Randolph through Taft and on to Ron Paul really doesn’t have any intellectual basis older than Burke.
That reminds me of this from Gary North on Nisbet.
March 18, 2009 at 9:52 pm
[...] a more religious America, but made the religious more favorable toward free-markets. Bryan Caplan has argued that state marriage law (especially regarding divorce) makes it less attractive to men. Snooty [...]