What Dave Rubin Gets Wrong

Henry George takes aim at today’s popularization of so-called “Classical Liberalism,” a movement that fails to appreciate that, for true conservatives, economic priorities are always subservient to ensuring social order.

Classical Liberalism seems to be the “in” thing at the moment. One of its main proponents online is Dave Rubin. I like Dave Rubin. He’s brought a level of civil debate back to the public discourse through his YouTube show The Rubin Report that is badly needed. I’ve watched him since October 2015 and have seen him evolve in his thinking. Even though it’s been a one-way dialogue, I’ve also evolved in my thinking and beliefs.

Since partnering with Learn Liberty in 2016, however, his arguments and position have become more dogmatically libertarian. His support for what he sees as Classical Liberalism, and his support for unfettered capitalism, are in my view simply libertarianism given a new, more palatable label. His arguments have some truth in them, but, as a conservative, I also have reservations about the things he now argues for.

In a short animated video from July 10 titled What is a Classical Liberal?, Rubin issues a Classical Liberal manifesto. The video revolves around the idea that a Classical Liberal is someone who believes that “individual freedom and limited government are the best way for humans to form a free society.” The video concludes by arguing that the most important thing is for each of us to live as “a free person in a free society based on your own ideas and actions.” Rubin has argued that the election of Trump has opened up space for the discussion of what conservatism now is and has the potential to usher in a more libertarian conservatism.

This elision of conservatism with Classical Liberalism or libertarianism has been put forward by others on the right, including Never-Trumpers like Bill Kristol. But, as Yoram Hazony points out, Classical Liberalism is not conservatism.