I have been reading with concern articles in conservative publications which outline how we conservatives are being our own worst enemies in that a few of us allow our passions to lead to outrageous claims and conspiracy theories.

Sam Tanenhaus, editor of the New York Times Book Review, has written a book entitled "The Death of Conservatism." The Economist summarizes the theme of the book as follows: "Over the past 50 years or so American conservatives have transformed themselves into latter-day Jacobins- slogan- spouting ideologues who want to destroy government rather than reform it. They are so blinded by partisanship that they are incapable of seeing any vices in their own side or any virtues in their opponents, and so consumed by anger that they define themselves by what they want to destroy than to preserve. American conservatism is dying as a movement precisely because it has abandoned the principal insights of classical conservatism: for example, that government is a precondition for civilisation." The Economist, August 22, 2009, page 74. However, The Economist goes on to criticize the book as unfair and unbalanced in that it does not also acknowledge the shrill language of the left nor the merits of opposition to bigger government.

Another essay raises the concern that unbridled passion (primarily anger) and conspiracy theories are inhibiting rational debate on the issues of the day. "But wide-spread paranoia has drawbacks. For a start, it makes calm, rational debate rather tricky. How can you discuss the trade-offs of health care reform, for example, with someone who thinks the government is plotting to kill grandma? It does not help, either that politicians on both sides are willing to fan the flames. Sara Palin calls Mr. Obama's health-care proposals 'evil'. Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, calls the protestors who loudly oppose them 'evil-mongers'. Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House of Representatives, calls them 'un-American'." See "Still Crazy after all these years," Lexington, The Economist, August 22, 2009, page 32.

We must disavow those words, conspiracy theories and actions which are undermining our credibility as conservatives. We must correct anyone who spouts words and thoughts that are simply untrue. For example, "[m]uch foolishness has become attached to the question of President Obama's place of birth, and a few misguided souls on the right have indulged it (to the delight of the press and the White House). The president's birth certificate has been made available to reporters for inspection, and its authenticity has been repeatedly confirmed by the authorities in Hawaii, where he was born. Conservatives ought to leave conspiracy theories to the likes of Rosie O'Donnell and the one in three Democrats who believe that 9/11 was an inside job. Obama is a wrongheaded president, but not an illegitimate one." "The Week," National Review, August 24, 2009, p. 6.

We must maintain our credibility by disciplining our passion with reason and common sense. It is instructive for us that the leaders of our revolution, though passionate about the cause, disciplined that passion with reason and common sense. The Declaration of Independence still stands as a compelling document for its clear, passionate, disciplined presentation of the rights of people and the reasons for our separation from Great Britain. These same revolutionaries wrote the Articles of Confederation and then the Constitution of the United States to provide for effective, limited government. Even the vigorous debates over adoption of the Constitution (as exemplified in the essays now known as The Federalist Papers and The Anti-Federalist Papers) show the passion of each side disciplined through reason and common sense. This is in sharp contrast to the French Revolution where unbridled passion (primarily anger), without the discipline of reason and common sense, consumed itself after the wanton and needless destruction of people, property and institutions.

More on this topic next week.