What’s broadened the appeal of conservatism in recent years is that Republicans stress individualism -- individual effort and personal responsibility. They’re really the liberty party now -- I thought my party was! It used to seem as if the Republicans were authoritarians and the Democrats were for free speech and for the freedom to live your own life and pursue happiness. But the Democrats have wandered away from their own foundational principles.

Hmmm. Maybe. Or else she’s just finally seeing her party for what it really is. The Democratic view of "liberty" is so superficial now that it is no surprise its greatest and most vociferous defenders are from Hollywood.

Not free ... not nice.

Not that I am a fan of Ms. Paglia’s politics, nor have I read much of what she has written, but I thought she was impressive in the interview. She is certainly no party hack. If the "Hollywood left," which she identifies herself with, albeit in a semi-detached sort of way, was as "thoughful" as she appears to be we could be thankful.

Here is the part that I think is most true..."The mass of the population always want to live their own lives; change is always driven by small, committed groups of ideologues and fanatics -- even in our own revolution. Representative democracy is a great ideal, but major shifts are rarely achieved by majority rule, which prefers the status quo." It is a very Hobbesian truth...also a truth that is echoed in the Declaration: "that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."