Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

usonian

(23,589 posts)
Tue Dec 16, 2025, 12:31 AM Dec 16

Wilhoit's Law. Conservatism in a nutshell.

Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit:

There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_M._Wilhoit

5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Wilhoit's Law. Conservatism in a nutshell. (Original Post) usonian Dec 16 OP
There is NO "conservatism" in today's politics in the U.S. valleyrogue Dec 16 #1
The meaning of "conservatism" is now synonymous with those who claim its mantle LearnedHand Dec 16 #2
It's hard jfz9580m Dec 16 #3
Agree, the takeover is complete, but Wlhoit said it some time ago. usonian Dec 16 #4
K&R. Very apt. Scott Alan Swaggerty Dec 16 #5

valleyrogue

(2,590 posts)
1. There is NO "conservatism" in today's politics in the U.S.
Tue Dec 16, 2025, 12:33 AM
Dec 16

It is the radical right.

Any time somebody use "conservative" to describe the radical right, I can tell somebody's age. "Conservatism" hasn't been around since the Bush II era. Those people were booted out of the GOP or they quit.

Jessica Valenti, who has the Substack, Abortion, Every Day, does this all the time and doesn't understand the simple fact there is no "conservative" movement in the U.S. in the third decade of the 21st century. She doesn't know what she is talking about, and I can't read her work anymore because of it.

LearnedHand

(5,241 posts)
2. The meaning of "conservatism" is now synonymous with those who claim its mantle
Tue Dec 16, 2025, 12:51 AM
Dec 16

It doesn’t matter what the traditional definition is anymore. And Wilhoit’s law exactly fits today’s situation.

jfz9580m

(16,584 posts)
3. It's hard
Tue Dec 16, 2025, 04:01 AM
Dec 16

To craft a message so as to please everyone who reads it so people use shorthand.

For years in my anxious haste (in a hostage like situation) to be politically correct as someone with no sympathy for religion, conservatism etc, I would hasten to say “Not all cons/not all religious” and in placating the people who at most superficially sympathize, I was shafting the people likeliest to actually sympathize politically, while avoiding anyone I didn’t want harassed by the nuisances inflicted by these horrible societies that are getting built with maximum exploitation and obnoxiousness.

(Capcha: op Ukrainian flag/ valley-rogue’s is Kansas..lol)

usonian

(23,589 posts)
4. Agree, the takeover is complete, but Wlhoit said it some time ago.
Tue Dec 16, 2025, 10:59 AM
Dec 16

The days of "Small Government and Less Government Interference"

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Wilhoit's Law. Conservati...