Post-Liberal Right's Challenge to American Founding Principles Sparks Debate

Prominent political commentator Joel Berry, Managing Editor of The Babylon Bee, has ignited discussion with his recent assertion that the "post-liberal Right" fundamentally opposes a core tenet of the American founding. Berry's commentary, shared on social media, highlights a perceived ideological clash over the nation's foundational principles, particularly regarding hierarchy and egalitarianism. This statement brings into focus a growing intellectual movement that critiques modern liberalism.

According to Berry, the primary target of the post-liberal Right is not merely the post-war consensus but the very idea of radical egalitarian Enlightenment thinking that influenced America's inception. He stated, "They think the founding of America was poisoned by radical egalitarian Enlightenment thinking, and that it must be completely overturned." This movement, as described by Berry and echoed in analyses of figures like Patrick Deneen and Adrian Vermeule, advocates for the imposition of top-down hierarchies, potentially based on "blood, birth, religion, or whatever else they might cook up," contrasting sharply with traditional American ideals.

Berry counters that the "American belief does not impose hierarchy, but also, it’s not anti-hierarchy like the Left is. It’s not egalitarian." Instead, he argues, the American system posits that "if you give people freedom and equal justice under righteous law, the correct hierarchies will emerge." This concept aligns with Thomas Jefferson's idea of a "natural aristocracy," where leadership is determined by virtue and talent rather than inherited status or wealth.

Jefferson, in his correspondence, distinguished this "natural aristocracy" from an "artificial aristocracy" based solely on birth and wealth. He believed that a well-ordered government should facilitate the selection of individuals possessing virtue and talent for public office, ensuring that the most capable lead. This vision emphasizes meritocracy, where individuals rise based on their abilities and moral character, rather than predetermined social standing.

The American founding, while espousing radical ideals such as "all men are created equal," also grappled with inherent contradictions, notably the institution of slavery and limited suffrage. While it championed equality before the law and individual liberty, it did not pursue radical equality of outcome. This historical context underscores the tension between the aspirational language of the founding and the practical realities of its implementation, a tension the post-liberal Right now seeks to exploit.

Berry concludes his critique by noting the strategic silence of the post-liberal Right on their ultimate goals. He suggests they "can’t come out and say that openly because their movement would die. That’s why so many of them lie, obfuscate, and gravitate toward Machiavellian tactics." He calls for an honest debate, emphasizing that productive discourse requires both sides to genuinely represent their views, highlighting the profound implications of this ideological divide for the nation's future.