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“How come you’re so wrong, my sweet neocon?” So asked Mick Jagger on his 2005 album “A Bigger Bang,” and it’s a question many have asked since the Iraq War began. Once a term applied to reform-minded social scientists writing in domestic policy journals like the Public Interest, since the Bush administration neocon is primarily a term of abuse applied to anyone deemed overly hawkish on foreign policy.
On this episode Gary Schmitt discusses his essay in the American Interest in which he traces the evolution of the term, and talks with us about whether neoconservatism is still a viable political philosophy today. We also discuss how the US should view ongoing tensions in Taiwan and Hong Kong, and Max rants about fast-casual restaurants.
Gary J. Schmitt is a resident scholar in strategic studies at AEI where he studies national security and longer-term strategic issues affecting America’s security at home and its ability to lead abroad. In addition, Dr. Schmitt directs AEI’s Program on American Citizenship, which focuses on constitutional and civic issues.
Related reading:
Sweet Neo Con by the Rolling Stones
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The conversation about the term “Neocon” was interesting, but I have to take issue with the grocery store and headphones. Gracious! When else is there time to listen to podcasts like this??? I tend to keep one earbud out regardless, unless there’s music with words. Grocery shopping is tedious. This makes it a little better. And I’m not even a Millennial.
Thanks for the interview. I learned a lot about neo-conism(?). Sorry I can’t leave a review on I-tunes because I don’t do I-tunes …. or Twitter or Facebook, etc for that matter.
Per @LoisLane – I don’t do headphones either. (Wow I’m really a curmudgeon aren’t I.) My father was deaf and I really don’t want to do anything that might make me deaf as I become more curmudgeonally.
That’s a basis for the curmudgeon instinct, but I don’t keep the volume up high… just high enough to hear what’s being said. :)
Regardless, I don’t think the earphones are the issue. It’s people who aren’t aware of their surroundings… who are impolite.
For example, there was a race in Atlanta that I ran years ago that didn’t allow headphones because they felt runners were unsafe when out with earbuds.
Well…. okay. Maybe? But… no.
I’m not going to run ten miles in silence. Or pick out my eggs and cheese? ;) .