Which brings us to what conservatism seems to advocate and debate in universities. If the sites of major movements like YAF, TPUSA, ISI, and others are any indication, conservatism is pretty much reduced to training people to get Republicans elected (or be elected as Republicans) and ensure the federal government protect the country and stay off of citizens’ backs. Oh, and fighting back on the fronts of the culture war with varying degrees of effectiveness and persuasiveness, as well as bask in the victory in the Cold War, now thirty years old.

What’s wrong with that, you ask? After all, Ronald Reagan was the one who advanced these ideas! As did Buckley! Sure, there are many bad tactics and poor forms of argument, but surely if we cleaned that up, then everything will be OK, right?

Well, here’s the thing: Far more people attend college and university than before. Most of them will not be politicians. Or political activists. Or journalists. Or pundits. Whether they graduate or not, whether they are conservative or liberal, White or people of color, straight or LGBT, they will live normal lives in normal communities (in cities or suburbs as well as small towns). Conservatism as it stands now has absolutely nothing to offer them outside of ideas on how to vote every few years and perhaps what to read or watch (and probably get upset about, given how limited an effect they have on the federal government).