understand that you're asserting that the American right is liberal, but there isn't any good reason to think that's true, and at the very least, I think you have to realize that there are significant illiberal elements that have influenced the movement (and currently control it).
This is difficult for you to process because you believe American Rightism isn't founded in liberal thought. If you look up the definition of liberalism no true American Conservative would deny it's foundations. Equality before the eyes of the law is a central tenant of American conservatism which is why using equality as a measure is an outdated outlook. It simply isn't the line between the two sides whether you want to believe it or not.
Incorrect. The far right of the spectrum is monarchy or monarch-like systems. The far left is no gov't at all and a totally flat hierarchical structure (no property, essentially).
This was cleared up before. We can't continue until you admit your line of reasoning is outdated. No one who calls for limited government is seeking to reinstate the monarchy. You have to come to terms with the fact that the status quo is simply different in America than it was in France.
It depends. If you're discussing the American right, which you have mentioned many times, the character of the American right is relevant. If you're simply saying that right-wing liberalism is not authoritarian, that's true, as liberalism (left, right, and center) is inherently opposed to authoritarianism.
As I've mentioned numerous times their character makes not a lick of difference. You think it does but it doesn't. In no way does that negate that status quo for people to gravitate towards it or away from it. It's not like it simply disappears because your candidate of choice wasn't elected and that the current president is not a traditional American rightist......which I'm glad you can sort of gather, this is progress in my opinion.
American rightism is opposed to any form of authoritarianism or any centralized government operating outside the scope of it's original intentions like protecting people from one another and the externalities on an international stage. The more bloated government gets and the more redistributive the economy the more left it gets.
The American Constitution is a liberal document, and the liberal right has good things to say about it, but it doesn't define the "American right." Calhoun is a much bigger influence on the American right than Locke or Smith, who generally (not just certain passages) promote a different, opposing viewpoint that fits better with the American left.
Locke literally gave structure to Americas presidential system and the Central tenants of classical liberalism which is undeniably right-wing thought today, can be seen nearly verbatim in the constitution. You saying Calhoun was more influential than Locke here is to enter another dimension of weirdness that I'm not willing to follow on.
think that what conservatism is (well-described
here, which I recommend) is a belief in the wisdom of tradition.
When I have more time I'll read it but I'm currently at work. But assuming the last part of your sentence is an accurate portrayal of the contents than it would reinforce the idea that conservatism is relative and not static as tradition always is the world over.
How I view them is irrelevant, but how they view them defines what the "American right" is. And what the American right is, is mostly an authoritarian movement that is increasingly disconnected from liberalism and conservatism.
Yea that may very well be the case and I'm glad you understand that those people are getting away from conservatism voting for a demagogue" I think you understand at this point conservatism is different in America than it is (or at least was) in Europe. Because as we follow your logic this would peg them closer to upholding European conservative values which is veering off to the left now.
I think we are making progress here.
There was a choice between a highly competent liberal technocrat and a buffoonish, authoritarian demagogue with no understanding of gov't. Authoritarians chose one of them, and liberals chose the other.
This is a different conversation all together but sure. They did indeed vote for him.
I don't understand the decentralization comment. That's a theme of Trump's? The president who is trying to get involved in city policing decisions? Also, he's absolutely a rightist, and has the support of the overwhelming majority (90% or so) of the American right.
Meh. He's to the right of something that's for sure.
