Seize the Means of Conservatism (w/ Stephanie Slade) MO #340

Fusionism—the philosophical synthesis of classical liberal liberty and Judeo-Christian virtue—is increasingly being abandoned by the modern American right in favor of a reactionary, power-seeking agenda. This shift, exemplified by figures like J.D. Vance, prioritizes seizing state institutions to punish political enemies over the traditional conservative goal of limited government. Driven by a generation of young people feeling besieged by a hostile culture, this new "dissident right" rejects procedural neutrality, viewing politics as a zero-sum war. While the Cold War once provided a unifying intellectual foundation for the conservative movement, its collapse left a vacuum now filled by populist resentment and illiberalism. Addressing this crisis requires moving beyond mere electoral strategy to rediscover first principles, emphasizing that a flourishing society depends on decentralizing moral questions away from the coercive power of the state.