Behind the Bastards Part One: How Conservatism Won
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Apr 2, 2024 
David Bell discusses the funding of right wing think tanks and the shift in American culture. Topics include the evolution of political labels, the influence of think tanks on policy decisions, the flawed strategy of the Rand Corporation in the Vietnam War, and the marketing of trickle-down economics.
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Think Tanks' Influence
- Think tanks generate papers to create an illusion of consensus.
- These papers convince journalists, influencing policy and court decisions.
Post-War Liberalism
- Post-war America saw liberal economic and social policies dominate.
- Commentators like Lionel Trilling noted the absence of substantial conservative ideas.
Eisenhower's Highways
- Eisenhower, a Republican, built the interstate highway system.
- Such large-scale public works projects are now politically inconceivable.