The Tea Party, Conservatism, and the Constitution (Imprimis)

Click to access 2014_01_Imprimis.pdf

The Tea Party, Conservatism, and the Constitution

Charles R. Kesler
Editor, Claremont Review of Books

CHARLES R. KESLER is the Dengler-Dykema Distinguished Professor of Government at Claremont McKenna College and editor of the Claremont Review of Books. He received his A.B., his A.M., and his Ph.D. in government from Harvard University. He is editor of the Signet Classic edition of The Federalist Papers; editor of and a contributor to Saving the Revolution: The Federalist Papers and the American Founding; co-editor, with William F. Buckley, Jr., of Keeping the Tablets: Modern American Conservative Thought; and author of I Am the Change: Barack Obama and the Future of Liberalism.

The following is adapted from a speech delivered on October 21, 2013, at Hillsdale College’s Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the AWC Family Foundation Lecture Series.

The Tea Party movement is named, of course, for the famous event in late 1773 when cases of tea were dumped unceremoniously into the Boston harbor. The Boston Tea Party—a carefully orchestrated strike against a commodity that was being taxed and sold by a monopoly provider—was intended as a one-time thing, though it ended up being an important link in the chain of events that led to the American Revolution. Today’s Tea Party, on the other hand, has ambitions to become an ongoing force—maybe even the major force—in American conservatism. And it strives for a revolution of its own, a return to a more limited, more constitutional form of government. If I had to judge its performance so far, I would say that it has been courageous and right in its diagnosis of the problems facing American politics, but somewhat off in its prescriptions.

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Things are coming together

I announced my departure to my company.  The reaction was initially shock, then jealousy, but overall positive.  We’re working through the logistical details of my separation.  We also accepted an offer for our house in a private market transaction which surfaced when we briefly listed the home late last year.  If this closes as planned, we’ll be homeless beginning April 30.  Both the home sale and separation from my company have brought the reality home.  I had some good news from a long-time client who wants to keep me engaged with their family.  Seems like this might work with agreement from my company (you know, non-compete issues and all that), overall could be a win-win.  The few clients who know at this point have been embarrassingly complementary of me.  Nice to have clients and friends.  Anyway, the stone is rolling – no moss gathering (at this point).

Making the leap

Tomorrow, the plan is to make our announcement to my employer and start the process.  We returned yesterday from a week-long ski trip to Sun Mountain Lodge near Winthrop, WA.  Talking about our plans with the kids.  Initial trepidation, followed by some creative ideas of travel destinations.  Spending the day today writing resignation letter, notes to schools (looking for help and flexibility for the following year) and looking into medical insurance and storage options for our belongings.  Off to Beauty and the Beast playing at the Paramount Theatre tonight.

To sin by silence, when we should protest, Makes cowards out of men.

In the era of street protests, here’s a poem that seems to capture the emotion of the crowds (without the facepaint).

To sin by silence, when we should protest,
Makes cowards out of men. The human race
Has climbed on protest. Had no voice been raised
Against injustice, ignorance, and lust,
The inquisition yet would serve the law,
And guillotines decide our least disputes.
The few who dare, must speak and speak again
To right the wrongs of many. Speech, thank God,
No vested power in this great day and land
Can gag or throttle. Press and voice may cry
Loud disapproval of existing ills;
May criticise oppression and condemn
The lawlessness of wealth-protecting laws
That let the children and childbearers toil
To purchase ease for idle millionaires.

Therefore I do protest against the boast
Of independence in this mighty land.
Call no chain strong, which holds one rusted link.
Call no land free, that holds one fettered slave.
Until the manacled slim wrists of babes
Are loosed to toss in childish sport and glee,
Until the mother bears no burden, save
The precious one beneath her heart, until
God’s soil is rescued from the clutch of greed
And given back to labor, let no man
Call this the land of freedom.

ELLA WHEELER WILCOX, “Protest,” Poems of Problems, pp. 154–55 (1914). http://www.bartleby.com/73/1695.html

 

Who is John Galt?

I hadn’t seen the Ayn Rand “In her own words” documentary before.  Quite enjoyable.

“My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.”

Tough news

Our niece has had a heart condition since about 6 months old and while many of the symptoms have been under control with meds, the concern has always been that she’d need a heart transplant at some point.  Today we got news.  Now 11 years old, she has been admitted to the ICU at Seattle Children’s for at least two weeks while they try to get her heart stable.  They are hoping for a transplant but she needs to qualify first. Our prayers are with her and her family as this brave girl faces another big challenge.

Update: early December surgery was a great success.