David Storey: Can A Liberal Democrat Be Conservative?

Why might a liberal Democrat with progressive values hold a conservative disposition? Could it make sense to both advocate for positive change and honor traditions and the social cohesion they foster? Might this represent the twin challenges facing today's Democratic Party? In this 30-minute episode of How My View Grew, Boston College philosophy professor David Storey explores these questions through his own personal and professional experience. How did someone who dismissed the Republican Party as simplistic and repellent learn to recognize the virtues of the conservative disposition, even as Republicans themselves abandoned this disposition? What does this tell us about MAGA, Mr. Trump, January 6, and the the upcoming U.S. Presidential Election? Who are the "barstool conservatives," and why are they anything but conservative? If you believe in the gains brought by liberalism and progressivism, aren't you acknowledging that these are traditions you want to conserve? **Key takeaways** 3:00 The thick culture and Fox News habits of a childhood friend's family 5:30 Discovering positive patriotism on 9/11 9:00 Learning from Andrew Sullivan that traditions are complex, involve pruning, and were built by people 12:00 Why the Iraq War violated conservative principles and climate activism can piggyback on them 17:30 The primal ethnocentric energies of George Wallace and Patrick Buchanan—also not truly conservative 20:00 How these primal energies broke through to the mainstream in the form of MAGA and Mr. Trump 22:30 The "barstool conservatives" who are angry they can't watch cheerleaders or call things "gay" 25:00 The January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol is what happens when you abandon the conservative disposition 27:00 The important contributions of the Never Trumpers 28:00 Amiel's reflections **Resources** David's web site, including his podcast, Wisdom@Work The Institute for Cultural Evolution, where David is a Senior Fellow **Subscribe to the podcast** To hear the origin stories of more big ideas, subscribe to How My View Grew on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. **Share the love** Leave me a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.