Vision and Philanthropy a Bradley Center Symposium
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Vision and Philanthropy A Bradley Center Symposium Vision and Philanthropy A Bradley Center Symposium Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal HUDSON INSTITUTE Symposium on Vision and Philanthropy Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal at Hudson Institute ISBN 1-55813-146-9 Copyright © 2005 Hudson Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be repro- duced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. The views in this book are solely the views of the authors. No opinions, statements of fact, or conclusions contained in this document can be properly attributed to Hudson Institute, its staff, members its contracted agencies, or the other institutions with which the authors are affiliated. Printed in the United States of America. ii SYMPOSIUM ON VISION AND PHILANTHROPY Introduction any think the key to success for conservative philanthropy is its Mwillingness to give imaginatively and consistently, and according to a larger, coherent vision of public policy. But what is the conservative vision for America today? And how can philanthropy best promote it? On February 16, 2005, Hudson Institute’s Bradley Center for Philanthro- py and Civic Renewal brought together twenty-one prominent conser- vative thinkers, writers, and philanthropists to discuss these essential questions. The event was called “Vision and Philanthropy.” Nearly 150 invited guests attended, several of whom raised questions, made com- ments and added their own thoughts to the record. What follows is an account of the proceedings of February 16 in the form of the essays panelists prepared for the discussion; a nearly verba- tim transcript of the discussion itself, including audience questions and answers; and the day’s keynote address, given by the White House Di- rector of Strategic Initiatives, Peter Wehner, on the subject of President Bush’s governing philosophy. This booklet is by no means intended as a conference summary or report on the subject of “conservative vision” and “conservative philanthropy.” Rather, it is intended—as the discussion on February 16 was—to contribute to what we see as a healthy and necessarily public debate on private means and pub- lic ends in America today. We hope to see the discussion continue. William A. Schambra Krista Shaffer Executive Director Research Assistant Bradley Center Bradley Center About the Bradley Center Hudson Institute’s Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal was founded in January 2003 and is directed by William A. Schambra. The Center takes its name from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, its principal donor and a prominent funder of public policy research supporting free enterprise, traditional values, and a strong national defense. The Bradley Center aims to encourage grassroots foundations and char- itable donors to direct more resources toward support of small, local, often faith-based grassroots associations that are the heart of a vital civil society. In its research, writing, and seminars, the center critically exam- ines the current giving practices of American foundations, which tend to be directed toward large, expert driven projects that often undercut, rather than support, small civic associations. It also provides practical advice and counsel to funders who are interested in designing grant- making programs that support civic renewal. HUDSON INSTITUTE iii For more information on the Bradley Center’s work and staff, please vis- it the Center’s web site at http://pcr.hudson.org, also accessible through Hudson Institute’s main web site at http://www.hudson.org. About Hudson Institute Hudson Institute is a non-partisan policy research organization dedicated to innovative research and analysis that promotes global security, prosper- ity, and freedom. We challenge conventional thinking and help manage strategic transitions to the future through interdisciplinary and collaborate studies in defense, international relations, economics, culture, science, technology, and law. Through publications, conferences and policy recom- mendations, we seek to guide global leaders in government and business. Since our founding in 1961 by the brilliant futurist Herman Kahn, Hud- son’s perspective has been uniquely future-oriented and optimistic. Our research has stood the test of time in a world dramatically transformed by the collapse of the Soviet Union, the rise of China, and the advent of radicalism within Islam. Because Hudson sees the complexities within societies, we focus on the often-overlooked interplay among culture, demography, technology, markets, and political leadership. Our broad- based approach has, for decades, allowed us to present well-timed rec- ommendations to leaders in government and business. For more information, visit http://www.hudson.org. James Piereson, William Schambra, and Robert Kagan iv SYMPOSIUM ON VISION AND PHILANTHROPY Contents Introduction .......................................................................................... iii I. Essays .....................................................................................................1 Stuart Butler ....................................................................................... 1 Linda Chavez ...................................................................................... 4 Barbara J. Elliott ................................................................................. 6 Steven F. Hayward .............................................................................. 9 Robert Kagan .................................................................................... 12 Leon Kass .......................................................................................... 15 David A. Keene ................................................................................. 18 Leonard A. Leo ................................................................................. 20 Heather Mac Donald ........................................................................ 22 Scott McConnell ............................................................................... 25 Stephen Moore ................................................................................ 28 Grover Norquist ............................................................................... 32 James Piereson ................................................................................. 35 Robert L. Woodson, Sr. .................................................................... 45 II. Transcript of the Discussion ....................................................... 48 Panel 1: What Is the Conservative Vision for America Today? ....... 50 Panel 2: What Can Philanthropy Do to Realize a Conservative Vision? .................................................... 82 Keynote Address: “President Bush’s Governing Philosophy” by Peter Wehner ............................................................................. 111 III. Author and Panelist Biographies ...........................................125 HUDSON INSTITUTE v Vision and Philanthropy A Bradley Center Symposium I. Essays Stuart Butler Vice President, The Heritage Foundation o understand fully the conservative vision of the public interest Tand the key role of philanthropy in that vision, it’s necessary to appreciate how conservatives view the balance between individual rights and the good of the community. The idea of rights is as central to conservatism as it is to liber- alism. In broad terms there is also a similar interpretation of the obligations of the wider society to protect rights, and to provide support for its poorer and weaker members. But there are three ways in which we conservatives see that relationship a little dif- ferently from most liberals. First, we see assistance to the less fortunate as involving mu- tual obligation. It is not a one-way right and one-way obligation. To be sure, helping the poor and alleviating poverty are not so much acts of generosity or charity (in the common use of that word), but a moral imperative. Indeed the root of the biblical Hebrew word for charity—tzedakah—relates to justice, not generosity. Yet assistance to the poor is not a form of repara- tions, or necessarily a step towards a goal of material equality. Those receiving help have a corresponding obligation to use it, if they are able to do so, to improve their condition and rejoin the mainstream society. We can, and should, insist on self-improve- ment. This is why conservatives, unlike most liberals, are quite comfortable in conditioning welfare on work, or assistance for education on effort and results. Second, conservatives are generally more ready to balance rights to assistance with the wider material and social interests of the com- munity. So while rights must be respected and strengthened, they do not automatically trump the common good. This is why conser- vatives are so leery of the idea of the word “entitlement,” whether for welfare or for Medicare, where the law requires resources to HUDSON INSTITUTE 1 be devoted to a program’s specified benefits without regard to the impact on competing community needs or desires. To conserva- tives, it is thus quite appropriate to weigh competing goals, such as supporting the health of the elderly or the welfare of the poor, in the balance with education for our children or national defense. A community’s commitments to its members must be reviewed regu-