Another passage from Lakoff, with my interpolations. From page 68:
In its moral basis and its content, conservatism is centered on the politics of authority, obedience, and discipline. This content is profoundly antidemocratic, whereas our country was founded on opposition to authoritarianism. Yet conservatism also lays exclusive claim to patriotism. There is a contradiction here. How do conservatives get around it?
The answer can be found in the word “conservatism” itself. Those who call themselves by that label typically say they are in favor of conserving the best of past traditions. —
We could stop right there. Continue reading
