Unlike MacArthur's grantees, the Bradley recipients are political or cultural conservatives, each an estimable personage of genuine accomplishment. They are well-established in their fields, admired by their colleagues, and secure in their professional positions. Genius grants more often than not go to people in obscure or humble circumstances. The Bradley prize, in a unique twist, is awarded to people who don't need it.My first reaction was, geez, he must not have won. My second reaction is, well, unfortunately Ferguson is right, and there has to be a better use for the money.
Giving a check to George Will (one of Ferguson's examples) so he can write more baseball books isn't going to be nearly as useful writing a check to a conservative publication, or setting up conservative blogs (yes, I'll accept the check), or supporting initiatives at the state and local levels, or even buying commercial time for pet ideas. As much as I like honoring prominent conservatives for the work they do, surely they could hire Jonah Goldberg instead to host the awards ceremony (he's funnier than any Oscar host since Johnny Carson) and hand out nice big rewards to much lesser know but important groups?
