The Real Culture War ― Individualism Vs. Collectivism & How Bill O'reilly Got It All Wrong

In his book Culture Warrior, Bill O’Reilly--the host of the Fox News Channel show “The O’Reilly Factor”--incorrectly characterizes the Culture War as a social, political, and intellectual struggle between “traditionalists” and “secular-progressives.” THE REAL CULTURE WAR analyzes, dissects, and discredits Bill O’Reilly’s conception of the Culture War and argues that he gets it all wrong. His “traditionalism” and “secular-progressivism” are merely two heads of the same collectivist beast. THE REAL CULTURE WAR pits Individualism versus Collectivism. Individualism states that human beings have intrinsic value and possess the natural rights to life, liberty, and property. This view was held by the Founding Fathers. Collectivism states that human beings only have value in virtue of their relationship to the collective. This view was held by the “Philosopher-Kings” (PKs)--tyrannical leaders who view themselves as enlightened and exempt themselves from the draconian laws they force upon others. PKs discussed in THE REAL CULTURE WAR include Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin, and Mao as well as American leaders Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Al Gore, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. The intellectual, historical, and empirical foundations of Individualism and Collectivism are examined, and it is argued that logic and reason establish that Individualism is the superior worldview because Individualism naturally leads to peace, prosperity, and freedom whereas Collectivism invariably leads to war, poverty, and tyranny. Specific formulations of Collectivism--Communism, Fascism/Nazism, Progressivism, Environmentalism, Neoconservatism, Racism, Religionism, Corporatism, and Labor Unionism--are fully exposed and critiqued. Next, an alternate conception of government in the form of the Individualist State is developed and defended while building the “Night-Watchman State” from first principles. Within this “Minarchist State” is a system of taxation which provides a justifiable connection between the tax paid by the people in order to maintain the State whose duty it is to defend the natural rights of the people. These natural rights--life, liberty, and property--are each examined in depth and controversial issues related to them are analyzed fully in order to present philosophically sound solutions. Additionally, the structure and functions of the three branches of government--Executive, Legislative, and Judicial--of the Individualist State are explained, and it is demonstrated that the form of government written into the Constitution is a “Night-Watchman State” similar to the Individualist State. Later, modern threats to Individualism--the economic tyranny of the Federal Reserve, the globalism of the New World Order, and the collectivist Neo-Progressivism of President Barack Obama--within the United States are described in detail. Finally, a five-step plan of action is revealed for what individualists can do to win the Real Culture War.