Author: Waleed Aly
Publication Date: 2010
Rating: 4/5
As a conservative I had only heard about Waleed Aly and his show The Project in a negative light. Figured he was just an ultra-modern, unprincipled Muslim SJW type and ignored him. This, however, interested me: an apparently obnoxious leftist exploring conservatism in a way that seemed inquisitive and considered rather than biased and agenda-driven. This was indeed the case; I was not disappointed. Aly, whatever his more progressive ideas may be, contributes a very well-written essay to this respectable political publication. Largely a critique of modern conservatism's neoliberal trappings, Aly actually acknowledges the importance of true conservative policy and pragmatism. His issue is mainly with neoliberal politics and its inconsistencies with actual conservative values such as family and Judeo-Christian morality.
Despite my expectations, this book didn't annoy me. Aly is the type of person one can easily forget is on the side of the left (much as he himself would disagree with such arbitrary groupings). If people on both sides of the spectrum would get their heads out of their ass and listen to those with sense and respect for civility rather than the losers that scream and cry about non-issues we would all be better off.
