Edmund Burke Is A Jerk: Our Political Elite’s Fealty To The Dead Reactionary Is Downright Dangerous

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For a country founded on the spirit of the enlightenment, the United States pays a bizarre amount of respect to Edmund Burke. The Irish philosopher and patron saint of “conservatism” is cited widely by American political elites from all ends of the political spectrum. David Brooks of the New York Times is often found penning paens to Burke, and a think tank in Washington bears his name. Meanwhile, on the alleged left, many have approvingly cited the similarities between Barack Obama’s governing style and the musings of the eighteenth century philosopher.

Yet there is much that is objectionable and repellent in Burke’s writings. It would been more appropriate to title his seminal work, Reflections On The Revolution In France, Reactionary Histrionics On The Revolution In France. It is little more than a litany of complaints and objections to rationality (yes, this from a “philosopher”), and the equality of man. (Indeed, in a remarkable confession of elitism, Burke admits that he feels more sympathy for people who are “exalted” rank. Hence his fealty to aristocracy.)

Many of Burke’s contentions are sinister, but, happily, they are no longer dangerous. After all, it is unlikely that, under leadership of the intellectual and multicultural Obama administration, America will reject racial equality or the pursuit of rationality. Yet, there is one strain of Burke’s thought that has infected (if not infested) the mentality of the Obama Administration and much of our political elite. And that is a deep suspicion of technological and social progress.

Burke took pleasure in contrasting the allegedly noble conservatism of his adopted home of England with the nefarious progressive revolutionaries of France. He claimed, “thanks to our sullen resistance, thanks to the cold sluggishness of our national character, we still bear the stamp of our forefathers . . . we are not the converts of Rosseau.” Further, “instead of casting away our old prejudices, we cherish them to a very considerable degree.” And according to Burke, this is a good thing. Innovation and progress are bad things – dangerous things.

Alas, this strain of thought is one that is now embraced by the Obama administration. Consider the President’s wrong-headed attack on risk, which will forestall economic and technological innovation and progress. Or look to Obama’s science and energy policies, which are designed to reduce humanity’s “footprint” on the Earth. This is a “Burkean” approach, in that it seeks to limit the pace and scope of human progress.

It is also a dangerous and and potentially disastrous approach. With economic growth and hiring stagnant, America needs to encourage risk-taking and innovation. Likewise, the societal and cultural gains that readily available electricity, transport, and modern conveniences have wrought need to be maintained and expanded.

Edmund Burke was a reactionary and an enemy of progress. Hopefully, progress will pass him by and our elites will come to treat him in the way he so poetically deserves: forgotten, ignored, and passed by.