Enlightened Self-Interest

Years ago I read Wm. Buckley's right-wing catechism, "Up From Liberalism." In that work Buckley argues that the individual will act in his or her own self-interest. The key to making this "moral" (using the term advisedly) is demonstrating that what is best for the whole is in the interest of the individual. Thus, the free market would ideally be the force that would drive moral change; the great irony is that in Buckley's paradigm greed becomes the agent of change for the betterment of the whole.

Why does a dyed in the wool leftist like myself mention this? I have been thinking, of late, about Pat Buchanan. Buchanan argues that dependence on foreign oil is bad for the defense of our nation. Creating a dependence upon another nation, whose interests may be other than ours, makes us a slave to the interests of that nation and thus grants them power disproportionate to their might. Following Buckley's idea of enlightened self interest, the right should advocate for alternative energy sources, thus limiting the dependence on foreign oil and in the process diminishing the need to support regimes like that of the Saudi Royal Family or having to maintain any particular order in the world to guarantee the flow of any necessary commodity.

When the argument is made in terms of the environment it is lost. Economics, not altruism motivate. Economics is, by nature, as short-sighted as self interest. Greed, not stewardship, will create the perception that what is good for the environment is good for the national interest. We liberals have made the fundamental mistake in trusting in the intrinsic goodness of humanity. It is not human kindness, but greed that has accomplished great things in the world.

I do not believe that greed is good. But I am pragmatic enough to realize that the environment will only be protected if the need for oil is diminished. If the argument that this is in the national interest is the means to that end, then I will argue not for the environment, but for national sovereignty and the protection of the nation.

But I am only a fool...