# X: The Soviet Menace explained — The Conscience of a Conservative > Chapter companion for The Conscience of a Conservative by Barry Goldwater. ## What happens The chapter critiques foreign aid as unconstitutional except when directly serving national security, argues that Communism is a political movement not cured by material wealth, and proposes a hardline strategy for winning the Cold War including withdrawal of recognition from Communist regimes, support for captive peoples' revolts, development of tactical nuclear weapons, and a discriminating aid policy limited to committed anti-Communist allies. ## Themes in this chapter ### Anti-Communism and Cold War Victory Central theme: the chapter argues for an aggressive strategy to win the Cold War, including supporting revolts, withdrawing recognition, and developing nuclear superiority. ### Limited Constitutional Government Foreign aid is condemned as unconstitutional unless it directly serves national security; the government lacks power to promote foreign welfare. ### Individual Freedom vs. Collectivism Communism is framed as a political movement opposed to freedom; economic freedom is tied to national strength and survival. ### Property Rights and Taxation Implicit in the critique of foreign aid as wasting American treasure and burdening taxpayers. ## Character check-ins ### Narrator Argues against foreign aid as unconstitutional and ineffective, and outlines a comprehensive Cold War strategy. ### The Communists Described as a political movement relying on small cadres of literate activists, not poverty; targeted by proposed hardline policies. ### The Kremlin Portrayed as rational actors who would not accept disarmament that leaves them weaker; would be confronted with ultimatums in uprising scenarios. ### The Soviets Mentioned as having superior conventional manpower; their nuclear parity and propaganda are seen as threats. ### Congress Implied as the body that must authorize constitutional foreign aid and military actions. ### Most Americans Referred to as 'thinking Americans' who know the dire consequences of foreign aid spending. ### The Liberals Implicitly criticized for supporting foreign aid and disarmament policies that weaken the U.S. ### President Eisenhower Not directly named but referenced indirectly via the 1956 Hungarian uprising and U.S. inaction. ## Key lines > fourteen years, we have committed over eighty billions of American treasure⁠—in grants, loans, material, and technical assistance. Over the past fourteen years, the U.S. has spent more than $80 billion on foreign aid through various forms of assistance. _Highlights the massive scale of foreign aid expenditure._ > The American government does not have the right, much less the obligation, to try to promote the economic and social welfare of foreign peoples. The U.S. government lacks both the authority and duty to improve the economic or social conditions of people in other countries. _Argues foreign aid for welfare purposes is unconstitutional._ > A man's politics are, primarily, the product of his mind. Material wealth can help him further his political goals, but it will not change them. Political beliefs are shaped by ideas, not material conditions; wealth may assist in pursuing those beliefs but does not alter them. _Refutes the 'stomach theory of Communism' that poverty drives political allegiance._ > We must make America economically strong. ... Economic emancipation is equally imperative if the nation is to survive. Economic strength is essential for national survival, and it can only be achieved through freedom from government control. _Links economic freedom to national security._ > We should declare the world Communist movement an outlaw in the community of civilized nations. Accordingly, we should withdraw diplomatic recognition from all Communist governments including that of the Soviet Union. The U.S. should label Communism as illegitimate and cut diplomatic ties with all Communist states, including the USSR. _Proposes a radical shift in foreign policy to delegitimize Communist regimes._ > We should encourage the captive peoples to revolt against their Communist rulers. ... The freedom fighters must understand that the time and place and method of such uprisings will be dictated by the needs of an overall world strategy. The U.S. should support uprisings behind the Iron Curtain but coordinate them as part of a global strategy to avoid premature failures. _Advocates active support for anti-Communist revolts under U.S. direction._ > We must⁠—ourselves⁠—be prepared to undertake military operations against vulnerable Communist regimes. The U.S. must be ready to launch direct military action against weak Communist governments. _Calls for offensive military capability against Communist states._ > Had we the will and the means for it in 1956, such a policy would have saved the Hungarian Revolution. If the U.S. had been willing and able to act in 1956, it could have prevented the Soviet crackdown on the Hungarian uprising. _Criticizes past U.S. inaction during the Hungarian Revolution._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/chapters/x-the-soviet-menace - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_conscience_of_a_conservative_se/chapters