From Jennifer A. Marshall at National Review:
Is the conservative movement rooted in self-evident truths that reflect the enduring nature and purpose of human beings? If the answer is yes, then our next steps are clear. We have a responsibility to remain true to these founding principles, show that our ideas lift all, and ground Americans in what makes us “indivisible.”
1. Our principles are rooted in reality and deeply entwined with human flourishing. To abandon them would be to acquiesce to nihilism. Marriage reduces the probability of child poverty by 80 percent. Work-based welfare recognizes that personal responsibility is essential to human dignity. Free enterprise allows individuals to use gifts cooperatively, innovating in ways that advance human welfare. A strong national defense contributes to peace by deterring bellicose nations.
