A simpler framework for understanding the viewpoints

I gave out accounts of the conservative and liberal viewpoints, based on their positions on the various basic issues (or aspects or dimensions, as I termed them). Those accounts were complicated, and they didn’t give any sense of the basic foundations of each viewpoint.

I suggest that at bottom each viewpoint is an ideal scenario – a picture of what the world ought to be like and what the world can be like if everyone acts properly. In addition, each viewpoint needs a major assumption to justify its ideal scenario as well as its various positions on the issues.

Here are my suggestions of ideal scenarios and major assumptions for the four positions we’ve discussed, plus Libertarianism (which we haven’t said much about, but which is easy to understand – it just says we should have as little government as possible. Read Krauthammer’s column in the packet of clippings handed out.) See if these seem right:

Economic conservativism:

Ideal scenario: A vibrant economy producing enough to support everyone who works hard, though some make much more than others.

Major assumption: The economy will produce enough jobs that everyone willing to work can get a decent wage.

Social conservatism:

Ideal scenario: A society in which righteousness (based, for most people, on Judeo-Christian tradition) is followed universally and absolutely and is inculcated and enforced when necessary by the government, and in which righteousness is rewarded.

Major assumption: There is an absolute morality (and the social conservatives have the correct idea as to what it is).

Economic liberalism:

Ideal scenario: A society in which the government guarantees (through taxation, redistribution and regulation) that everyone has the material means necessary to live a decent life.

Major assumption: The economy can produce enough to allow everyone to have the material means necessary to a decent life, even though taxed and regulated so as to bring about the required redistribution. Also that all individuals capable of working will be willing and able to do the jobs necessary for the economy to produce enough.

Social liberalism:

Ideal scenario: Every individual enjoys maximum freedom as long as he/she does not harm others, and can enjoy the material means to live a decent life.

Major assumption: Same as for economic liberalism. Also, that individuals will not use their freedom to their own detriment or the detriment of the overall good.

Libertarianism:

Ideal scenario: Every individual enjoys maximum freedom from the government.

Major assumption: The non-governmental aspects of society can provide a decent life for everyone, free of government intervention.

Discussion:

It’s time to review those viewpoints that are waiting in the wings. For each, I would like to ask:

What is the good life, according to this viewpoint?

And what is the “American dream” (if different from the good life).

Who deserves (or most deserves) to live the good life?

What is the ideal scenarios of this viewpoint? And what is its major assumption?

How does it differ from the established viewpoints we have been discussing

(economic conservatism, etc.)? Or what might be easier: Which of these

established viewpoints is it closest to, and how does it differ from that viewpoint?

(Can we look at a viewpoint, such as the Greens/environmentalists, as a variant

of an established viewpoint?)

Finally, what would this viewpoint say on some of the specific issues (such as estate taxes, drug policy, etc. etc.)

Here are the viewpoints I would like to discuss:

that of alienated young people

New Age

Simple-living movement

Green party/environmentalists

any other significant viewpoints among young people?

Communitarianism

“Bo-bos”

Gen. X/Gen. Y

Bill Clinton

George W. Bush

Also, see view described in July 31 handout: Wealthy people superior and

blessed; poor are inferior. However, rich have Christian obligation to aid the

poor.