Monthly Archives: January 2016

The Strange Death of Movement Conservatism…

Posted on January 23, 2016 by bsixsmith

By 1989, William F. Buckley was more of a cold warrior than conservative. Once the Soviet Union had collapsed he found himself short of ideas and energy. Assuming, perhaps, that he should remould the conservative movement for the post-communist age … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservatism, Ideology, Politics, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Six Things Intelligent People Should Talk About Less…

Posted on January 20, 2016 by bsixsmith

Do not misunderstand me. The following are not things one should not talk about. These are things that should be talked about in their time and place, yet can monopolise our conversations like a party-goer finishing other people’s jokes. 1. … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Rhetoric, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Against Liberal Triumphalism…

Posted on January 10, 2016 by bsixsmith

“Civilisation,” claims Nick Cohen, “Came from the battering that religion took from the Enlightenment.” For liberal triumphalists like Mr Cohen, culture and science sprang into existence around the time that Voltaire first poked fun at faith. Before this, Britain was … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Liberalism, Politics, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Conservatism and the Case of the Christian Democrats…

Posted on January 8, 2016 by bsixsmith

An erroneous understanding of conservatism holds that it entails defence of the social order whatever that social order might be. This is somewhat like suggesting that progressives must support change in every instance. An example of how not to do … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Organised Crime | Leave a comment

On the Failings of Unrepresentative Democracy…

Posted on January 6, 2016 by bsixsmith

We live, as all sixth form politics students will know, in a representative democracy, where elected officials rule on our behalf. One might think that they represent our opinions but few things could be more incorrect. It is a fact … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Politics, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

All His Failings Exposed…

Posted on January 4, 2016 by bsixsmith

It is hardly worth becoming agitated by the splenetic biologist and blogger PZ Myers’ bafflingly spiteful and woefully ignorant screed against Effective Altruism and theorists of existential risk. Who could be convinced by such blatant bare assertions and such obvious … Continue reading →

Posted in Personalities, Scepticism, Uncategorized | Leave a comment