Friday, June 1, 2012

Is Conservatism a Valid Philosophy or an Excuse for Self-Dealing?

The problems created by climate change and environmental degradation present an interesting test of conservative philosophical principles. Johnathan Adler, a law professor at Case Western University, argues (here) that the principle of private property provides a particularly strong test.

Severe Conservatives seem to argue that the principle of private property gives them the right to do whatever they want with their property. In the Anglo-American legal tradition, however, severe conservatives do not have the right to use their property in a way that causes harm to a neighbor.  Even moderate climate change resulting from your right-wing neighbor's CO2 emissions will have severe consequences that involve the loss of someone's property rights.

The right wing seems to misunderstand the conservative principle of property rights. It also seems to misunderstand that enforcement of property rights could solve environmental problems such as over fishing (here). Finally, small-government solutions such as revenue-neutral carbon taxes, incentives for innovation and reduction of regulations that inhibit the adoption of clean energy are all available conservative policy options.

Why doesn't the right wing champion property-right and small-government solutions to environmental problems? Why does the right wing oppose all kinds of tax increases? Would someone like to argue that the reason isn't simply the result of naked self-dealing and a misappropriation of collective assets?