R.I.P. William F. Buckley, Jr.

We mourn the passing of William F. Buckley, yesterday at age 82. I've long admired Mr. Buckley, and had hoped to meet him someday. (Alas! as he might have said.) As his friends have noted, he had a greater impact on the country (not to mention the world) than some presidents, as well as having inspired millions of individuals. Of the reflections I've read, the most moving said that great men are rare, great men who are also good rarer still, and even more rare are those like Buckley, who was also "sweet and kind". On my car radio last night, even his political adversaries paid tribute to these qualities. His was a life well lived, one that "redeemed the time". I hope to emulate that aspectof his life (among others) more effectively. I have a shelf full of his books that I'm working my way through, and now I want to go back and get his "Firing Line" videos. But meeting the man in person is off the books this side of Heaven. Thankfully, he lived much of his life so open to the public, that maybe I can pick up some of its flavor still. William Buckley, RIP.

Defining Conservatism

There is some debate currently on what conservatism is. To my mind, it includes the following beliefs:



1. There is a God, and he is not us. He created the universe, but is not confined by it, or by time. He created us (whether this was done quickly or slowly is an in-house debate, but the key point is that we are created by a Creator, not as a result of random events).



2. As a result of #1, we humans have meaning and worth, and owe our allegiance to our Creator. Our rights are a by-product of these facts.



3. We are fallen creatures. We do not perfectly reflect our Creator. Man (or humankind) is not perfectible as a species.



4. However, we do reflect him, albeit imperfectly.



5. Because of #3, government is necessary.



6. Also because of #3, government (which is made up of fallen people) cannot be trusted but must itself be limited, constrained, and monitored.



7. The purpose of government must therefore be to best approximate the conditions for the expression of #4 and the rights inherent in #2, always keeping in mind the realities of #3.



8. In order to be financially stable, one must live within one's means. This applies to governments as well as individuals.



9. Free markets should not necessarily be absolutely free, but by and large, they are the best means of producing innovation, invention, and the goods and services that people want.



10. There will not, short of Kingdom Come, be a utopia on earth (see #3). We will maximize our happiness by realizing that we can only hope for a maximized approximation of human potential. This is usually referred to as "freedom" or "liberty".



11. In pursuit of #10, we can usually be guided by Winston Churchill's maxim that democracy is the worst of all systems, except for all the rest.



12. To moderate #11, however, we must remember James Madison's maxim that a system of government must fit the "genius of the people". In other words, not all peoples or cultures at a given time are equally suited to practicing democracy. (The Russians, for example, admire a strong hand by their government. "Nobody ever said Ivan was dumb" as the U.S. military was once fond of saying. Yet Ivan seems to lack the talent of practicing freedom.) Also moderating #11 is C.S. Lewis' leading question: what if monarchy is the means of irrigating the dust-bowl of modern politics? Thus the constitutional monarchy is not necessarily anathema to freedom or liberty.



13. The power to tax is the power to destroy. Taxes are necessary but should be kept to a minimum.



14. Bullies must be resisted, or they will go on bullying.



15. War is hellish, but the willingness and ability to wage war skillfully and decisively can usually preserve peace. Conversely, a people that refuses absolutely to wage war will be enslaved or martyred. Never the less, war is to be avoided unless prudence dictates otherwise.

As was the case for the last several elections, this year's presidential contenders leave me... ...uninspired.

Roughing It

My friend Jonathan recently bought a painting at a garage sale for $1.50. I don't particularly like it, but he does, and it's inspired him to create his own low-cost gallery on his walls. This made me think of what a good bargain can mean to me.

When I go to Yosemite on my own, or with my brother, part of the enjoyment I get is from the fact that I can live on almost nothing and have a fantastic time. The feeling of being able to stay in a campsite for 12 bucks, and have breakfast, lunch, and dinner for under 20 (or less), that I can have a hot shower for two dollars and feel like a million bucks, somehow makes me feel young and that the world is full of good possibilities. Whereas if I pay hundreds and stay in a lodge room, it's nice but...something is missing. It's not the money savings, but a feeling of being more in tune with the real essentials of living well. Everything seems to have more flavor and excitement. A gluttonous feeling of waste slides off. I appreciate each thing more fully.