New Individualist on McCain

The reason is that McCain's danger (over and above that of the Democratic contenders) is an emergent property, a sum that is greater than its positions-and-legislative-action parts: McCain is a total, unreserved collectivist whose actions would set precedents for grotesque growths of government power, to a degree much greater than that of his rivals. You would have to abstract properly from the items in the record to see this.

I can certainly see the apparent ridiculousness of not supporting the Republican nominee for president, since that's the first reaction I have and probably that anyone who loves freedom has.

Whether McCain, Obama, or Hillary gets elected, the country is certainly headed for more statist policies over at least the next four years -- more environmental policies (especially to combat "global warming"); more socialization of medicine; higher taxes; more anti-business, anti-profit, anti-individualist, collectivist rhetoric and policies; more statism. The biggest difference would be that if McCain is elected, it will be a Republican who is doing it and there will be no ability for conservatism to reinvigorate itself enough to come back.

If Obama or Hillary are elected, the right will be as invigorated in four years as the left is now, and will then have a chance to come back, and to come back strong. Do you remember how strong the conservative movement got after just a few years of Clinton's presidency? There was Republican control of Congress two years after Clinton was elected, conservative political pundits flourished, especially Fox News.

So, I have to agree with Bidinotto. I agree with him completely. The long-term interests of the country would actually be served by McCain's defeat. The next president will be disastrous for America, so it would be better for that person to be a Democrat than a Republican.

Something Bidinotto did not discuss, but which must be considered, is why we're standing at a point now where conservatism has no force whatsoever in the election.

McCain is an idiot.