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Obama Is No Burke
From the Editors
Some liberal commentators have begun calling President Obama Burkean, after 18th century political philosopher Edmund Burke, frequently called “the father of conservatism.” However, their animating principles are, in fact, nearly opposites.
The central passion throughout Burke’s recorded words was opposition to arbitrary power and the tyranny of government’s “officious, universal interference” in people’s lives. An intellectual ally of America's revolution, he condemned taxes without representation as "perfect uncompensated slavery," and asserted “Nobody will be argued into slavery."
To discern whether President Obama is a Burkean, one needs only consider Burke’s words:
“It is better to cherish virtue and humanity, leaving much to free will...than to attempt to make men machines and instruments of political benevolence. The world…will gain by a liberty without which virtue cannot exist.”
“Whatever each man can separately do, without trespassing upon others, he has a right to do...all men have equal rights; but not to equal things.”
“Whenever a separation is made between liberty and justice, neither...is safe.”
“The people never give up their liberties, but under some delusion.”
“The true danger is when liberty is nibbled away, for expedience, and by parts.”
“The people at large...should not be suffered to imagine that their will...is the standard of right and wrong...they [cannot]...use any arbitrary power whatsoever...”
“All human laws are, properly speaking, only declaratory; they have no power over the substance of original justice.”
“Arbitrary power...is a subversion of natural justice, a violation of the inherent rights of mankind.”
“[Nothing is] more truly subversive of...human society than the position that any body of men have a right to make what laws they please...”
“[B]etween them and their rulers, the presumption is…in favor of the people.”
“It is one of the finest problems in legislation, what the state ought to take upon itself to direct and what it ought to leave, with as little interference as possible, to individual discretion.”
“It is a popular error to imagine the loudest complainers for the public to be the most anxious for its welfare.”
“It is better to leave all [contractual] dealing...entirely to the persons mutually concerned… than to put this contract into the hands of those who can have none, or a very remote interest in it, and little or no knowledge of the subject.”
“[The marketplace] obliges men, whether they will or not…to connect the general good with their own success.”
“Free trade is not based on utility, but on justice.”
“The moment the government appears at market, the principles of the market will be subverted.”
“Property was not made by government, but government by and for it. The one is primary and self-existent; the other is secondary and derivative.”
“[R]esist the very first idea, speculative or practical, that it is within the competence of government...to supply the poor with necessaries...To provide for us in our necessities is not in the power of government. It would be a vain presumption in statesmen to think they can do it. The people maintain them and not they the people. It is in the power of government to prevent much evil; it can do very little positive good in this, or perhaps in anything else.”
“The public is the theater for mountebanks and imposters.”
“In a democracy, the majority of the citizens is capable of exercising the most cruel oppressions upon the minority.”
“Property, left undefended with principles, [becomes] a repository of spoils...”
“The most unjust and impolitic of all things [is] unequal taxation.”
“The government is a juggling confederacy of a few to cheat...and enslave the people.”
Since President Obama actions are so sharply opposed to Edmund Burke’s views, calling him a Burkean reflects ignorance or willful misrepresentation. Burke said “the greatest security of the people against [government] encroachments and usurpations...is to keep the Spirit of Liberty constantly awake.” Today, that rallying cry might be voiced by an Obama opponent, but you won’t hear it from a supporter.
Gary M. Galles is a professor of economics at Pepperdine University. His research focuses on public finance and public choice (better termed the economics of government), the theory of the firm, the organization of industry and liberty. He regularly contributes the "Quotable" column, featuring timeless excerpts from classical liberals.
