Okay, But What Do You Want to Actually Do

There’s a lot of debate here at the moment about the meaning (and desirability) of so called “common good conservatism.” At the risk of bringing down the tone — and, perhaps, of sounding rather simple — I’d like to suggest that we ought to be a lot less interested in the terminological question (i.e. what does the “common good” mean?), and a lot more interested in the practical aims of those who are advancing it as a political option (i.e. the matter of what those who use it actually want to do with the government).

Dan writes that:

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Charles C. W. Cooke

Charles C. W. Cooke is a senior editor at National Review and the host of The Charles C. W. Cooke Podcast.

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There’s a lot of debate here at the moment about the meaning (and desirability) of so called “common good conservatism.” At the risk of bringing down the tone — and, perhaps, of sounding rather simple — I’d like to suggest that we ought to be a lot less interested in the terminological question (i.e. what does the “common good” mean?), and a lot more interested in the practical aims of those who are advancing it as a political option (i.e. the matter of what those who use it actually want to do with the government).

Dan writes that: