What on Earth is Happening on the Right?

Part 1, Ideology

The internet presents a divided right-wing. Platforms like X have been flooded in the past month with posts dividing the conservatives movement into MAGA (Make America Great Again) and MIGA (Make Israel Great Again); America First and America Only; people who think that fighting WWII was good and necessary and people who think it was a mistake; people who believe Churchill to have been the big bad of WWII and people who think he was a hero; people who support of H1B visas and people against the program or even the entire concept of immigration. What in the world is going on?

My goal in this post is to try and dig heels into this game of tug-of-war at the midpoint. I’m not trying to answer all of these debates – in fact, I’m not even trying to wade into the current debates. My goal is to take a step toward some sort of solid ground to stand on. We need perspective on how we got to this point. Therefore, I have a few points to make.

First, much of this conflict has been caused and stirred up by bot farms and accounts from third-world counties presenting themselves as being from America or Western nations (I will write more about this in part 2). Nearly all of the internet bots are aimed at America, and much of them are aimed at influencing political discussion. That impact CANNOT be overlooked in the slightest.

Second, these debates on economics, immigration, foreign policy, and perspectives on WWII have been discussed for well over two decades. From my perspective, the god-father of much of this conflict on the right on an ideological level is Pat Buchanan, for reasons I will reference and link to below.

Third, the lines referenced in the first paragraph in this post are not clearly delineated. Not everyone against H1Bs thinks that WWII was an unnecessary war — Steven Crowder is an example of this. Some people who are now using the concept of MIGA as something to war against have arrived at their positions in the past months or years because of podcasts they’ve listened to. In other words, they’ve jumped into an ideological position of which they have not thought through as thoroughly or logically as they have other topics. In their own minds, what they believe hasn’t yet taken to the fertile soil of conviction.

Fourth, the problem is one of perspectives and solutions. These debates have been going on for decades have now come to maturity, and now people are taking sides who have not participated or even known about the debates. Some know of and agree with some or all of what Pat Buchanan believed and have no clue what his detractors have said in response. Some are firmly against what Pat Buchanan stood for, and won’t give anyone the time of day who purports any of the ideas he held. For this reason, these two sides perceive each other wrongly. They are diagnosing the problems we all see with different metrics (again, I’m writing as if everyone involved is arguing in good faith, even though some aren’t).

What can be done? Many things, but the central one is to take a step back and get a wider perspective that will then inform what we think of modern problems and solutions. Below I will be providing links of conversations that will help us get some perspective on this whole problem. I would listen to them in order. It will take you some time, but it will be rewarding if you are aware of these things.

The first video lays out Pat Buchanan’s beliefs. The second gives a response specifically to WWII claims. The third video expands on the second video (if you only have time for the second or third video, watch the third).

Pat Buchanan on Suicide of a Superpower — https://youtu.be/zUClM5hOZb4

The Storm of War — Andrew Roberts — https://youtu.be/kx0iwRO6jas

In Defense of WWII — Victor Davis Hanson and Christopher Hitchens discuss Pat Buchanan — https://youtu.be/isAu6TteFjI

Now, I will risk telling you some of what I think. I think Pat Buchanan was right in half of what he said. America is at risk of Balkanization. He was right in large part about immigration, trade policy, and the economy. He was wrong on other things — primarily stemming from his perspective on WWII. I have written about that specifically here.

These are hard days to be navigating, and I am far from claiming I have much of anything figured out. However, if I can help us to think better in some small way, I will be happy.

More to follow in future posts…