> [!quote] [Wilhoit’s Law](https://crookedtimber.org/2018/03/21/liberals-against-progressives/#comment-729288) > Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: > > There must be in-groups whom the law protectes (*sic*) but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect. This is a comment made by composer [Frank Wilhoit](https://www.broadheath.com/) in response to the essay *[The travesty of liberalism](https://crookedtimber.org/2018/03/21/liberals-against-progressives/#comment-729288)* on the political blog *Crooked Timber*. It is a fundamental tenet of a [[Culture of Supremacy]]. ### Background The comment in its broader context responds to a discussion prompted by an accounting of contradictions between leftist political ideologies ("liberalism" and "progressivism") in the original post, defining conservatism in order to set up a law of anti-conservatism. Wilhoit claims such leftist distinctions in politics actually fall under the premises of conservatism, in that ruling factions will always make exceptions to their supporters while enforcing standards on their opponents. Since these sorts of naked displays of power have gone out of fashion, they are instead wrapped in whichever ideology happens to be en vogue. > As the core proposition of conservatism is indefensible if stated baldly, it has always been surrounded by an elaborate backwash of pseudophilosophy, amounting over time to millions of pages. He proposes, instead of liberalism or progressivism, anti-conservatism buttressed by the tenet of a truly democratic society: > The law cannot protect anyone unless it binds everyone; and it cannot bind anyone unless it protects everyone.