If you're not a liberal at 25, you have no heart. If you're not a conservative at 35 you have no brain.
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2014/02/24/heart-head/I've often wondered at this old maxim. It seems if one embraced liberal philosophy early in life, you should continue to hold the same views throughout your life. Liberalism is, after all, a concern for other people brought about by a wider perspective and exposure to other viewpoints. That never goes away.
But the maxim is often interpreted using the more recent definitions of conservatism where it's a disinclination to pay taxes and support society, where Randian self-interest eclipses community spirit.
Today's political conservatives would be unrecognizable to 19th century conservatives. The extreme drive to maximize wealth and minimize empathy is a uniquely Industrial Age phenomenon.
There is a valid issue in controlling government spending of course. Government, like any other endeavor, will grow in scope and scale as long as unlimited funds are provided.
How do you reset the balance, recalibrate the priorities without upsetting the Apple cart, without overthrowing the good that government has done?
Home 