, Columnist
Peter Thiel's Conservative Case for Big Government
The tech billionaire argues for federal action that's competent and promotes growth.
Contra Bill Clinton..
Photographer: Alex Wong/getty imagesThis article is for subscribers only.
At the Republican convention in Cleveland, billionaire investor and entrepreneur Peter Thiel introduced two bold new ideas to his conservative audience. If these make their way into the party’s canon, it could usher in a revolution about what it means to be a conservative.
Thiel’s first bombshell was to proudly acknowledge his gay identity, and to urge Republicans to shift their focus away from issues of sexuality and gender, scoffing at the debate over “who gets to use which bathroom.” “Fake culture wars,” Thiel declared, “only distract us from our economic decline.”