Agent Of Status Quo

In middle of Sullivan-Goldberg love fest, Goldberg gives an insightful definition of conservatism.

Oakeshott was a brilliant advocate for a small-c conservatism of temperament, one that placed trust in institutions, trial-and-error, and muddling-through without iron-clad dogma.

Conscience is important, but conscience must be informed — not dictated to — by institutions, religion, tradition, and, of course, reason.

Of course it is irrelevant to India where every party including BJP aspires for some shade of socialism.