Thursday, March 12, 2009

"The Happiness of the People"   [Jonah Goldberg]

I've been attending the AEI annual dinner (called by a great many, "the prom"), since I first started working at the American Enterprise Institute in late 1991 (or maybe that was early 1992?). Anyway, I've been to every prom but one. Charles Murray's talk last night — he's this year's recipient of the Irving Kristol award — was by far my favorite. Accessible, but deep, sweeping yet focused, it was just a wonderful piece of work. Charles made the large case against America following Europe's socio-economic model, while at the same time refraining from bashing Europe or social democracy.

His basic argument is that while the European model may be conducive to a certain facile contentment, it hamstrings the pursuit of true happiness and deep satisfaction. Arguments about tax rates and healthcare delivery are sideshows to this fundamental conflict of visions.

My only criticism stems from my serious skepticism that Murray's rosy prediction will come true. He thinks that within a decade the breakthroughs in neuroscience and biology will force the left and others with romantic assumptions about egalitarianism and/or blank slatism to abandon their worldviews and accept a more realistic/conservative/libertarian vision. I wish I could be so upbeat.

Anyway, when it's available in print (or video) form I will let readers know. You should definitely do yourself the favor of reading it for yourself.

And regardless, congratulations to Charles for an outstanding effort.

03/12 09:24 AMShare