I think what I'm afraid of isn't change that most people really want, or change that is consistent with "abstract principles and doctrines" (assuming that they are sincere principles and doctrines) but change designed to benefit the politically well connected. To pick three examples out of countless others: the current scandals affecting the insurance industry, the state of public education today and the current situation with illegal immigration all suggest the power of well-connected subgroups (to wit, (1) insurance companies that have captured their state regulators and successfully avoided national regulation, (2) teacher unions, (3) Democratic politicians eager for immigrant votes and Republican businessmen eager for cheap labor) to have their way with both tradition and principle--and, in the process, effect fairly radical and long term change than few of their fellow citizens would ever vote for or desire.

Posted by: Friedrich von Blowhard on October 27, 2004 9:33 AM

I think Scott's translations of these quotes are brilliant, and offer an all-you-need-to-know guide to urban design!

Posted by: Michael Blowhard on October 27, 2004 10:29 AM

Hi there,

This is a very interesting quote of Disraeli's and is an important one in rebutting a portrayal of conservatism as completely anti-progressive.

There is another quote by Burke to a similar effect : "A state without the means of some change is without the means of conservation."

Not wanting to blogwhore to blatantly, but if you are interested, I have been trying to tease out some implications of these kind of thoughts over at http://thelandsurveyor.typepad.com/the_land_surveyor/

Willchill

Posted by: willchill on October 28, 2004 12:58 PM






Post a comment

Name:


Email Address:


URL:


Comments:


Remember your info?