Twelve questions for John Derbyshire
31st August 2009
DIA: What finally prompted you to put pen to paper?
Mr Derbyshire: An offer from a publisher.
DIA: Give me some examples of how conservative pessimism might translate into policy.
Mr Derbyshire: Abandonment of “nation-building” exercises. Abolition of the federal Department of Education. A 1924-style immigration freeze. Repeal of No Child Left Behind. End of all federal subsidies to “community groups”. End of all federal subsidies to arts and culture. End of all foreign-aid programmes that are not plainly and obviously bribes for pro-American behaviour. Restart construction of neutron bombs. Full-bore federal-subsidised research on missile defense. Withdrawal from the UN, followed by razing of all UN structures on American soil and sowing the ground with salt. How many d’you want?