[littletimmy]

There is much evidence to suggest that exactly the opposite is true: an excess of social liberalism leads to the downfall of a culture. Social conservatism means stable families, strong men, and social cohesion, which translates into a stronger nation. Social liberalism, as it has now, degenerates into identity politics and political paralysis. As Aristotle put it, "Tolerance and apathy are the last virtues of a dying society."

The greatest time for the middle class in the United States, for example, was in the 50s, when society was much more conservative than it is now. (That's what the "Make America Great Again" is all about.) The 50s are the last decade that the conservative WASP aristocracy was in power. Every election since, groups like African Americans, women, and Jews have increased their power and brought about with them big government. How is that an improvement? Surely, you agree that big government is disastrous for the country?

There's a book "Sex and Culture" by J.D. Unwin that actually argues (convincingly in my opinion) that a suppression of sexual energies (i.e. control of women) is a necessary (not sufficient) condition for a civilization to succeed. Check it out.

[saalweachter]

Ahh, yes, the 1950s, when millions of veterans went to college for free and obtained low-interest mortgages under the GI Bill, when the Interstate Highway System -- perhaps the largest, most costly, and most environmentally consequential public works program ever -- was begun, when half the world fell to Communism, when schools were forciably integrated and whites began to flee cities and urban centers for the implicitly segregated suburbs, when modern medicine developed the polio vaccine and the birth control pill, when half the US workforce was unionized, when the Kinsey Report and Playboy were first published...

Wait, what were we talking about?

[littletimmy]

Social conservatism.

Even if I take your point that big government can be good, one has to concede that it succeeded with social conservatism. Ever since social liberalism took hold, things have gone steadily downhill.