Fall Reading: The bleeding edge of conservatism.

• Author: Gochnour, Natalie
• Position: Economic Insight

Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake is one of few Republican senators who challenge President Donald Trump directly, openly and actively. He's written a new book titled Conscience of a Conservative. In it he makes the case that America's conservative movement has lost its way and is in crisis. And while his commentary may be on the bleeding edge of conservative thought about our current president, I think Flake presents a compelling analysis. I recommend his book for your winter reading.

Flake defines conservatism as follows:

I believe there are limits to what government can and should do, that there are some problems government cannot solve, and that human initiative is best when left unfettered, free from government intervention or coercion. He then says these ideas offer the most freedom and best outcomes in the lives of the most people. In full disclosure, I agree. Flake makes his case for why Donald Trump is an enigma and a riddle that needs to be solved. Flake says populism, nativism and demagoguery are sugar highs and we need to find something longer lasting to carry the conservative movement. He says ideas and values are the best place to start.

Defining values

Conservative values, in Flake's worldview, include limited government, economic freedom and individual responsibility. When a policy violates these values, he encourages conservatives to speak up. He then identifies another layer of these values, such as education, hard work, initiative, enterprise, cooperation, patriotism, fair play and service to one's country.

Flake argues for a major course correction for the Republican Party. He points out the demographic reality that about every four years, the electorate gets about two percentage points less white. He says the Republican Party, which gets older and whiter each year, is trending toward irrelevance. He reminds the reader that populism, nativism and demagoguery will have an unpleasant crash.

In one of the more interesting sections of the book, Flake calls the anger in the Republican Party the "spasms of a dying party." He goes on to criticize his Republican colleagues for nearly coming to blows over flag burning, rather than debating and finding solutions for Social Security. He says his quarrel with the president is not an act of apostasy, but rather an act of fidelity. He wants his party to have a more serious conversation. That conversation must consider critical public policies relating to immigration, free trade and...