In some forty years of government work I have learned one thing for certain. As I have put it, the central conservative truth is that it is culture, not politics, that determines the success of a society. The central liberal truth is that politics can change a culture and save it from itself. Thanks to this interaction, we're a better society in nearly all respects than we were.
- Daniel Patrick Moynihan
4 comments:
Moynihan was one of the brightest men ever to serve in politics. He was a real treasure.
One of my favorite remembrances was the story about how he was instantly impressed with Justice Sotomayor the first time he ever knew about her. His mind worked as fast as lightning.
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John,
I've long been a Moynihan fan even when I disagreed with him. It is a shame that he never ran for president. At the very least, it would have raised the level of debate.
Michael
The central liberal conceit it that their change is always in the right direction (i.e. progress). Likewise, the central conservative conceit is that the old way is always best.
Ambrose Bierce said Conservatives are those enamoured of existing evils while Liberals wish to replace them with new ones.
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