American conservatism, like America itself, is a creature of contradiction. Our nation was founded by an act of radicalism; a bloody revolution that produced a new kind of republic where the people would govern themselves. But its architects sought to restore inherited rights and freedoms that had been usurped by tyranny. They understood that human nature is immutable, and wished to preserve the centuries of accumulated wisdom that had guided mankind from barbarism to the Enlightenment. Ultimately, the American Founding established an open society, guided by principles of individual liberty and limited government. The conservative movement exists to uphold this political tradition and celebrate the revolution that spawned it.
This fascinating paradox is what makes American conservatism such a uniquely enjoyable enterprise. By its very nature, the right welcomes inconsistency and encourages internecine disagreement. It’s animated by a constant churn of debate between the likes of libertarians and traditionalists, believers and atheists, optimists and curmudgeons, hawks and isolationists, or economists of the Chicago and Austrian schools. This kind of internal dialogue encourages all parties involved to sharpen their beliefs and allows broad political coalitions to form.
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