Submitted by Eric VanArsdall, Jan 8, 2008 13:44

Consider Marge Simpson's simple statement of Oakeshottian-style conservatism:

Marge Simpson: "I guess its true that one person really can change the world, but most of the time you probably shouldn't"

If we elect Obama, it will be a mandate for change. I don't think there is any doubt about that. So, (1) what kind of change will we be mandating? And (2) is this one of those more frequent "most of the time(s)" that change is a bad idea or is it one of those less frequent times when change is a good idea? Lastly, (3) How can we know?

Answer to (2 & 3): We "know" that this is a good time for change when we, as an electorate, determine that it is. We may be wrong - but in a free society - we are responsible for making that determination. This determination is much more likely to be "right" if we have an open and honest political discussion.

Which leads directly to the answer to (1): Obama's meta-message is about improving our political discourse and process. His campaign has embodied an open and honest discussion of ideas, issues, and political philosophy. This is true leadership - "be the change you want to see in the world". Obama's message is, of course, not limited to this elevation of political discourse. His policy ideas are quite progressive/liberal. I do not agree with most of them. If he is elected, he will surely also have a mandate for changing our policy in the progressive direction. As a sceptical (of my own judgement as well as others) and humble conservative I must concede that it is basically certain that progressives/liberals have better ideas on at least some issues. If we elevate our political discourse and process, it is extremely likely that more of the "good" progressive/liberal ideas will be implemented (as opposed to the "bad" ones). And if the process is truly improved then, when it is the conservative's turn to govern again, the same should be true about which of their ideas are implemented. One more benefit is that these ideas should be implemented in a more competent fashion than we are used to.

This may all sound like pie-in-the-sky wishful thinking. We HOPE that Obama can be the agent for this kind of change. This is the hope we will be voting for/against in November.

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