All You Need Is Love: How Community Can Save Conservatism  By
Michael R. Strain  In May, Rep. Paul Ryan gave a speech at an
American Enterprise Institute dinner, where I work, titled
"Conservatism and Community." Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican,
spoke of the inherent human need for community. "We want
everyone to have a chance in life -- a chance to be happy," he
argued. "And we're happiest when we're together. We want to be
together. It's in our nature. We feel it in our bones." People
"hunger for a community -- where they realize their potential."
The vision Ryan offered is appealing, and conservatives should
listen to it.    Ryan argued that "the federal government has a
role to play" with respect to community, but that "it's a
supporting role, not the leading one." This is generally true.
Government should distance itself enough from the individual
that civil society -- which exists in the space between
government and citizen -- can flourish. Speaking generally,
government should help support these institut