Wednesday, February 17, 2010

How Conservative is 'The Mount Vernon Statement'?

Check out the Mount Vernon Statement, "Constitutional Conservatism: A Statement for the 21st Century." (Via Memeorandum.) Here's the summary:
A Constitutional conservatism based on first principles provides the framework for a consistent and meaningful policy agenda.
» It applies the principle of limited government based on the
rule of law to every proposal.
» It honors the central place of individual liberty in American
politics and life.
» It encourages free enterprise, the individual entrepreneur, and economic reforms grounded in market solutions.
» It supports America’s national interest in advancing freedom and opposing tyranny in the world and prudently considers what we can and should do to that end.
» It informs conservatism’s firm defense of family, neighborhood, community, and faith.
If we are to succeed in the critical political and policy battles ahead, we must be certain of our purpose.

We must begin by retaking and resolutely defending the high ground of America’s founding principles.
How conservative is this manifesto? Is the Constitution of 1787 actually more so a libertarian document?

Here's
Glenn Reynolds: "Notice that it’s heavy on small-government stuff, and light on social-issue meddling. I think this supports the notion of a libertarian shift on the right — which I, of course, am happy to see."

I would focus on how we interpret the last clause at the summary, "conservatism's firm defense of family, neighborhood, community, and faith." Will a libertarian interpretation of constitutional originalism provide a necessary and sufficient foundation for the protection of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Or, can we justify any room for "social meddling"?

If it were me, I'd go with Richard Land's manifesto, "
Stay Faithful to Core Values."

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