47. "RE: Got a good podcast that tries to shed some light on this." In response to In response to 26
Sounds very good. Added this to the podcast list. Thanks!
>It's called "Know Your Enemy." The stated purpose is to try >and quantify/identify exactly this. What do conservatives >*actually* stand for ? Why do they operate politically the way >that they do ? What is the history of conservative >intellectualism and thought, and how closely has it actually >reflected its own stated value system throughout modern >history ? > >It's a *super* dense podcast, at least the first several >episodes. Early on the two hosts tended to hone in on one book >or one central tenet of conservative intellectualism so I >found myself rewinding a lot. > >But I have to say that it's been super, super illuminating on >a number of levels. The hosts typically do a nice job of >laying bare exactly what motivations conservatives have and >how conservative "intellectualism" is typically used, as I >think most of us are acutely aware, as a tool to give cover >for their more abhorrent and ghoulish actual ideals and >motivations. But the hosts explain all this in a way that >doesn't come off as just piling on. They first try to honestly >explore what "decent" conservatives may actually believe, >before diving into the practical and functional results of >conservative philosophy and policy and highlighting how their >values more often than not result in utter failure on a >societal level. > >It's good for that reason but also because one of the hosts is >a self-described "recovering right wing intellectual" who has >since become a fervent leftwinger/borderline socialist. So he >offers a unique perspective that I don't think you often get >from other leftwing podcasts. > >Anyway I highly recommend it because I think this podcast >actually answers a whole lot of what you're asking here in a >satisfying way, that offers genuine and honest explorations of >conservative thought without serving to, in really any way, >*defend* conservatives or their stated beliefs unless >warranted (in rare cases).