The Redneck Intellectual by C. Bradley Thompson

The Redneck Intellectual by C. Bradley Thompson explores American history, philosophy, politics, and culture with a focus on the founding principles, individual rights, and the evolution of American society. It emphasizes the importance of freedom, private property, and a limited government while critiquing modern shifts away from these ideals.

American History Philosophy Politics Education Culture Founding Principles of America Individual Rights Freedom and Government Private Property Cultural and Societal Analysis

The hottest Substack posts of The Redneck Intellectual by C. Bradley Thompson

And their main takeaways

Founding the American Way of Life

687 implied HN points • 02 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Constitution Revolution Citizens
  1. Americans in 2023 are concerned about their nation's present and future.
  2. The American way of life was once seen as morally superior and built on a strict moral code.
  3. The founding fathers of America aimed to shape a moral culture through the Constitution that promoted virtues like freedom, rational self-interest, and individual rights.
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The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (No. 65)

353 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Economy Social Issues Legislation Government
  1. The Good includes interesting news about Argentina's libertarian president and heartwarming stories like a heroic dog and a Florida couple adopting a baby.
  2. The Bad showcases negative aspects of current affairs like economic struggles, bureaucratic proposals, and societal challenges.
  3. The Ugly delves into disturbing societal trends such as children on puberty blockers, court battles over trans surgeries, and unsettling political scandals.

America, Seen from the Eyes of a Child

550 implied HN points • 04 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Philosophy Education Ideology Government History
  1. The principles enunciated in the Declaration of Independence impacted the author deeply, leading him to become an American citizen.
  2. America's educational system has been moving away from the core values of American civilization, embracing moral relativism.
  3. There is a need for a new moral clarity and philosophical rearmament to defend America's principles and combat cynicism.

When Communism Came To America

530 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
💾 History Communism Moral Philosophy Economic Systems
  1. Seventeenth-century American colonies like Jamestown and Plymouth were founded on communist principles, which led to starvation and failure.
  2. Communism is inherently immoral and leads to resentment, mistrust, and decreased productivity.
  3. The introduction of private property at Jamestown and Plymouth led to increased productivity, social harmony, and moral transformation, emphasizing the importance of freedom and private property.

Regime Change, American Style

452 implied HN points • 27 Jun 23
💾 History American Revolution Social Change Meritocracy
  1. The American Revolution ushered in a new moral universe and a modern, liberal-capitalist society.
  2. The transition from pre-revolutionary society to a new philosophy of Enlightenment liberalism was gradual but accelerated by the American Revolution.
  3. Colonial America evolved from a status-based society to a meritocratic society following the American Revolution.

Order from Chaos

412 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Individual Rights Economic System
  1. Pre-revolutionary American society was governed by a semi-aristocratic elite with hierarchical values.
  2. Post-revolutionary America, especially in the North, was remarkably free due to limited government involvement.
  3. The American founders debated the role of government in controlling the economy, with Hamilton advocating for top-down management and Jefferson pushing for a more limited government.

America's Novus Ordo Seclorum

334 implied HN points • 23 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics History Philosophy Revolution Constitution Citizenship
  1. Different political communities shape distinct ways of life based on principles, values, and customs unique to them.
  2. Constitutions and forms of government play a central role in determining a society's way of life and cultural mores.
  3. The American Revolution and Founding transformed American society, promoting principles of individualism, meritocracy, and freedom.

Constitutionalizing the Private Property Order

314 implied HN points • 14 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Constitution Property Rights Government Power Taxation
  1. America's revolutionary era brought about innovative constitutional thinking in the realm of individual rights and the relationship between individuals and government.
  2. The concept of self-ownership was strongly upheld by the founding generation, with property rights viewed as absolute and a primary responsibility of government was to protect those rights.
  3. The founding generation emphasized the need to limit government powers to protect private property and contracts, institutionalize due process, and prevent abuse such as bills of attainders and ex post facto laws.

Freedom and the Frontier

255 implied HN points • 12 Sep 23
💾 History Society Revolution Individualism Freedom
  1. The post-revolutionary period in American history implemented Founders' principles like self-governance and freedom, shaping a modern, capitalistic society.
  2. Americas' adoption of self-interest ethics led to a new frontier culture of self-reliance and rugged individualism unlike any seen before.
  3. Freedom and the frontier of the expanding American West reshaped the nation's culture, offering new opportunities, freedoms, and a distinct American way of life.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (No. 52)

255 implied HN points • 07 Feb 23
  1. Celebration of positive news and achievements
  2. Highlighting concerning trends and issues in society
  3. Warning about critical societal challenges ahead