Friedrich --

I notice that Jim Kalb at "View From the Right" has a good "What Is Conservatism" essay, here.

Where do you find you feel most comfortable on the political spectrum? Myself, I feel most comfortable off the political spectrum. I'm anti-political, and whatever politics I have comes from that fact.

So I reason my way to political opinions this way: I'm not really political; which means that I like limits being put on politics; which means I'm wary of people who put great hopes in politics; and, besides, I like to be the one doing the picking and choosing whenever possible. I'll take "negative liberty" over "positive liberty" any day. And I spend much too much time gnawing at questions like these: Who are these people who put their hopes for redemption and salvation in politics? Haven't they read any history? But maybe that's just because I live in NYC.

If I were forced to take a stand (Oh, please no! Not that!), I guess I'd wind up wearing this team's uniform: classical liberal with conservative social concerns and a deep-dyed hatred of any kind of fanaticism. But I want to live a bohemian life myself.

I should come up with a name for my team. Something other than "Morons," I mean.

Best,

Michael