Moral Foundations webpage here where Wilkinson gets some of his analysis. Happiness Tests here.
Perhaps each succession of Americans’ moral culture is becoming more liberal in a way that can in part be described by Jonathan Haidt (though I’m highly skeptical of the depth of moral reasoning and method of analysis that could arrive at such a conclusion, especially when it’s applied to current politics).
Regardless, let’s assume it’s true. As for libertarianism, Wilkinson asserts that it’s most important not to cling to the old guard but to meet these new groups of young people where they stand and will increasingly stand (by appealing to their sense of social justice and fairness) and showing them that the best way to achieve their aims is through limited government and lots of economic growth, not through the old liberal democratic channels.
It’s certainly clever and I wouldn’t mind seeing it work…but like I said, I’m not sure that I can know that the analysis such reasoning rests upon is valid.
It also gives me the impression that the libertarians are merely appealing to the liberal side of the spectrum out of necessity right now…and perhaps abandoning their alliance with folks like Goldberg.
Interesting conversation.
chr1