"The main impediment to Republican modernization" is that Republican doctrine is hobbled by the belief that we all are, and all need to be, "rugged individualists fighting the collectivist foe," according to conservative columnist David Brooks today. Brooks argues that "this individualist description of human nature seems to be wrong," and concludes that "if Republicans are going to fully modernize, they're probably going to have to . . . project a conservatism that emphasizes society as well as individuals, security as well as freedom, a social revival and not just an economic one and the community as opposed to the state." Based on his other writings, it seems Brooks doesn't expect any such fundamental change unless/until devastating electoral losses cause big changes in the Republican Party leadership and thinkers.