"I will not cede more power to the state. I will not willingly cede more power to anyone, not to the state, not to General Motors, not to the CIO. I will hoard my power like a miser, resisting every effort to drain it away from me. I will then use my power, as I see fit. I mean to live my life an obedient man, but obedient to God, subservient to the wisdom of my ancestors; never to the authority of political truths arrived at yesterday at the voting booth. That is a program of sorts, is it not? It is certainly program enough to keep conservatives busy, and liberals at bay. And the nation free." – William F. Buckley, Up From Liberalism
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With all due respect, it is so friggin' easy to come out with crap like that when you are born rich, and basically free to spend your life being a dilettante of whatever hobby floats your boat, er, excuse me, your yatch.
Bill Buckley never had to worry about collective bargaining of any kind. His power was in the bank book he was born with. He didn't need to work to make allies; he could just open up an office and hire them.
He had the unmitigated gall to title the book from which you quote as a paraphrase of the inspirational "Up From Slavery"--even as he supported Jim Crow. It is true that he was against anti-Semitism. Well, one out of two ain't bad, hey?
Yes, it is easier to think this when you are rich. However, my parents were never rich and grew up in circumstances far harsher than you or I. And they imbued me with the same sentiment.
Then again, it could be a cultural thing -- Italians are nature’s anarchists after all.
As for Jim Crow, he was wrong, and he came to realize it.
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