Conservatives have no solutions, or so the story goes

 

Adam Smith, the Father of Capitalism and a key proponent of classical liberalism (1723-1790) [CC0]

My latest in The Spectator Australia, Conservatives have no solutions, or so the story goes.

Alexandra Marshall in Unfiltered:

Leading Flat White, Michael de Percy addresses the criticism that ‘conservatives only have complaints, not solutions’ where he rightly points out that socialists keep inventing ‘solutions’ to problems that don’t exist which triggers some of these complaints. In this case, the best solution is to simply stop doing stupid things. If only the left would listen.

Terry Barnes in Morning Double-Shot:

But in the very next piece, Michael de Percy castigates conservatives and classical liberals for not having any solutions at all, and hence always playing catch-up to the Left. De Percy insists he’s a classical liberal and not a conservative, but we’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: until the Centre-Right agrees on what unites us and defines who we are and what we stand for, the ideological wilderness is ours for years to come. Labels like ‘conservative’ and ‘classical liberal’ simply are barriers to ever finding that unity.

Conservatives have no solutions, or so the story goes
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Governments of socialist persuasions have, as part of their long march through the institutions of liberal democracies, managed to usurp the very principles of liberal democracy.

Fundamental to usurping liberal… pic.twitter.com/y2XwU7Vebl

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) February 11, 2024

My Comments on Spectator TV: The Week in 60 Minutes

There's definitely a rebellion against woke:

"In the US apparently they're forcing students to start writing in cursive again. It really is the tactile experience that works with your memory and creativity. When we look at architecture for example, it really is so boring. It's… pic.twitter.com/852p8LBtRz

— ADH TV (@adhtvaus) February 2, 2024

My latest commentary on Spectator TV with Alexandra Marshall.

There's definitely a rebellion against woke:

"In the US apparently they're forcing students to start writing in cursive again. It really is the tactile experience that works with your memory and creativity. When we look at architecture for example, it really is so boring. It's… pic.twitter.com/852p8LBtRz

— ADH TV (@adhtvaus) February 2, 2024

Politicians must permit Australians to speak up

19th-century liberal philosopher, John Stuart Mill.

At a recent public meeting in regional Australia, I asked what politicians could do to capitalise on the current mood to ensure the wokerati come to an inglorious end at the next election. One politician replied, ‘We need to give Australian citizens permission to speak up.’ I couldn’t agree more.

The truth is that many of us are being cancelled or censored and our voices are not being heard in the public sphere. It is time for that to change.

Freedom of speech is central to the success of liberal democracy, but many of our institutions appear hell-bent on rejecting liberal democratic practice. Our political representatives must turn the tables back on these institutions. My latest article in The Spectator Australia:

Politicians must permit Australians to speak up
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Many of us are being cancelled or censored and our voices are not being heard in the public sphere. It is time for that to change.

In Canberra this week, the Reckless Renewables Rally heard from speakers including… pic.twitter.com/jxb8FYQ2xI

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) February 10, 2024