David Storey: Can A Liberal Democrat Be Conservative?

How My View Grew

Why might a liberal Democrat with progressive values hold a conservative disposition? Could it make sense to both advocate for positive change and honor traditions and the social cohesion they foster? Might this represent the twin challenges facing today's Democratic Party?

In this 30-minute episode of How My View Grew, Boston College philosophy professor David Storey explores these questions through his own personal and professional experience.

How did someone who dismissed the Republican Party as simplistic and repellent learn to recognize the virtues of the conservative disposition, even as Republicans themselves abandoned this disposition? What does this tell us about MAGA, Mr. Trump, January 6, and the the upcoming U.S. Presidential Election? Who are the "barstool conservatives," and why are they anything but conservative?

If you believe in the gains brought by liberalism and progressivism, aren't you acknowledging that these are traditions you want to conserve?

**Key takeaways**

• 3:00 The thick culture and Fox News habits of a childhood friend's family
• 5:30 Discovering positive patriotism on 9/11
• 9:00 Learning from Andrew Sullivan that traditions are complex, involve pruning, and were built by people
• 12:00 Why the Iraq War violated conservative principles and climate activism can piggyback on them
• 17:30 The primal ethnocentric energies of George Wallace and Patrick Buchanan—also not truly conservative
• 20:00 How these primal energies broke through to the mainstream in the form of MAGA and Mr. Trump
• 22:30 The "barstool conservatives" who are angry they can't watch cheerleaders or call things "gay"
• 25:00 The January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol is what happens when you abandon the conservative disposition
• 27:00 The important contributions of the Never Trumpers
• 28:00 Amiel's reflections

**Resources**

• David's web site, including his podcast, Wisdom@Work
• The Institute for Cultural Evolution, where David is a Senior Fellow

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