The Right Right

My gadget that tells you what I'm reading appears to be down, but I just finished this novel by William F Buckley, Jr., and enjoyed it, though it appears to be a rather self-serving work. Let me explain.

The novel claims to be a historical look at the conservative movement in the early 1960s. I say claims, not so much because I doubt it, but because I know so little about it. Buckley portrays 3 branches of conservatism vying for influence: 1) the vigorously anti-Communists, to the point of conspiracy, where most political events are assumed to be manipulated by the commies to make us look bad. 2) the objectivists, headed up by novelist Ayn Rand. She was an atheist who taught that self-interest was the only way for capitalism to work, that altruism messes that market up, and that God and morality do the same. 3) the National Review writers and the Young Americans for Freedom group, which is painted as mainstream and sane.

Most of the book is about the meltdown of the first two groups, with National Review documenting and interpreting it. The conspiracy people lost credibility when they ranted against JFK soon after he was shot, and when they simultaneously assumed Communist plots caused it. Ayn Rand's megalomania did her in, as she consorted with her objectivist, and very married, lieutenant. When the latter called it off, she exiled him from the group.

The Young Americans for Freedom are depicted as an enthusiastic, orderly and parliamentary group at its beginnings at the Buckley home. I don't know much about them, but typically agree with Buckley's views.

The punchline of the book was when the main character, who was shot by the Communists at the beginning of the book and then joined the anti-Communist conspiracy theorists, finally resigned from them after being accused by them of aiding the commies, got married, and signed up to go to fight the Communists in Vietnam. I took from this the wholesome message that ideological rhetoric and membership in political groups isn't nearly as important as front line involvement against true evil.

Good light reading between theological tomes. The picture apparently refers to Ayn Rand's chain smoking habit, perhaps with an "up in smoke" sort of message.