Caleb Stegall

May 20, 2008

I have little desire to wade into the dispute between Justin and others over IQ averages and “racialism.”  But it is worth at least pointing out that, whatever the merits of the argument (and I am not in the least qualified to weigh in there), there is a strong conservative rationale for simply not raising the issue of IQ averages.  Namely, per Bramwell’s recent definition, that it tends to undermine the legitimacy of American institutions.  While I do not accept that undermining legitimacy is always to be avoided, in the context of American race relations, to do so strikes me as a very bad thing.  In more general terms, there are certain truths that any political regime must suppress.  It may be worth discussing this issue in such terms, or at least adding this consideration.