For decades, we have struggled to define the true role of the modern liberal in a functioning society. They seem to exist in a state of perpetual opposition, a constant, corrosive force dedicated to the deconstruction of every established norm, institution, and tradition. They do not build; they critique. They do not create; they complain. They do not unify; they divide.
But what if this function—this relentless, acid-laced drive toward breakdown—is not a flaw, but their very purpose? What if the liberal is not a builder, nor even a reformer, but a necessary, albeit dangerous, biological agent in the body politic?
The answer, as with so many fundamental truths, lies in the elegant, brutal mechanics of the human body. The function of the liberal in society is perfectly mirrored by the function of the osteoclast within the bone.
The Bone’s Wrecking Crew: Osteoclasts and the Necessity of Destruction
The human skeleton is a marvel of engineering, a structure that is simultaneously rigid and dynamic. It is constantly being renewed in a process called bone remodeling, a cycle of destruction and creation that ensures our bones remain strong, flexible, and healthy. This process is governed by two opposing cell types: the osteoblasts and the osteoclasts [1].
The osteoclast is the body’s demolition crew. These are large, multi-nucleated cells whose sole purpose is to dissolve bone tissue. They are the agents of resorption. They attach themselves to the bone surface and secrete a potent cocktail of acid and proteolytic enzymes, such as cathepsin K, which literally dissolve the mineralized matrix and collagen [2]. Their job is pure, unadulterated destruction. They are the cells of the Left.
Why would the body need such a destructive force? Because bone, like society, can become old, damaged, and brittle. If old bone tissue were allowed to accumulate without removal, the skeleton would become dense but structurally weak—a condition akin to societal stagnation. The osteoclast’s destructive work is necessary to clear the way, to create a void, so that the true builders can step in.
The Conservative Foundation: Osteoblasts and the Will to Build
If the osteoclast is the liberal agent of breakdown, then the osteoblast is the conservative agent of formation. These are the true creators, the cells that lay down the new, strong foundation.
Osteoblasts arise from mesenchymal precursors, the stem cells of the body, and their function is to produce and secrete the organic matrix of bone, primarily collagen. This matrix, initially unmineralized, is called osteoid. The osteoblasts then mineralize this osteoid by depositing calcium phosphate, solidifying the structure into new, strong bone [3]. They are the architects, the engineers, and the laborers of the skeletal system.
The analogy to the conservative worldview is immediate and profound. Conservatives are the societal osteoblasts. They are the ones who focus on building and solidifying the structures that give society its strength and resilience:
- The Family: The fundamental unit of society, built and maintained through commitment and tradition.
- Business and Enterprise: The economic engine, built through hard work, capital, and risk.
- National Identity and Institutions: The shared values and structures that provide a stable framework for life.
Conservatives understand that true strength comes from a solid, well-maintained foundation. They are dedicated to the slow, deliberate, and often unglamorous work of formation and preservation.
The Liberal Resorption: A Constant, Corrosive Force
When we view the political landscape through the lens of bone remodeling, the liberal agenda snaps into sharp focus. The liberal is the societal osteoclast, constantly seeking out and dissolving the “old bone” of established society.
The acid they secrete is the relentless, corrosive critique of every existing structure. They target the family unit with radical redefinitions, they attack the foundations of free enterprise with punitive regulations, and they dissolve national identity and historical memory with deconstructionist narratives [4]. Their entire political project is one of resorption:
- Resorption of Tradition: Dissolving the moral and cultural norms that bind communities.
- Resorption of Institutions: Attacking the legitimacy of the police, the courts, and even the electoral process.
- Resorption of Identity: Breaking down fundamental biological and social categories into an endless, fluid spectrum.
They see the existing structure not as a foundation to be preserved and strengthened, but as a brittle, damaged relic that must be torn down. And in a strictly biological sense, they are correct that some breakdown is necessary. A society that never changes, that never sheds its damaged parts, will eventually fracture under its own weight. The liberal, in this context, serves as the necessary counterbalance—the agent of change that prevents total stagnation.
The Danger of Dysregulation: Societal Osteoporosis
However, the analogy also serves as a dire warning. The health of the bone—and the health of the body politic—depends entirely on the tight regulation of the osteoclast.
In biology, the balance between osteoclasts and osteoblasts is called homeostasis. When this balance is lost, disaster follows. The most common bone disease, osteoporosis, is the perfect metaphor for a society dominated by the liberal impulse.
Osteoporosis occurs when osteoclast activity (breakdown) outpaces osteoblast activity (building) [5]. The bone is resorbed faster than it can be replaced. The result is not a stronger, newer bone, but a fragile, porous, and weak structure prone to catastrophic collapse.
This is the clear and present danger of modern liberalism. The conservative builders are constantly struggling to lay down new, strong matrix—to build businesses, raise strong families, and maintain civil order. But the liberal osteoclasts, empowered by media, academia, and government bureaucracy, are working overtime. They are dissolving the social and moral matrix at an unsustainable rate.
When the osteoclast liberal is allowed to dominate the political cycle, the result is societal osteoporosis:
- Fragile Institutions: Trust in government, media, and education collapses.
- Porous Culture: Shared values and common ground disappear, leaving a hollowed-out public square.
- Catastrophic Fracture: The society becomes brittle and vulnerable to internal conflict and external threats.
The conservative’s role, therefore, is not just to build, but to regulate the destructive force of the liberal. The osteoblasts produce a protein called Osteoprotegerin (OPG), which acts as a decoy receptor to inhibit the osteoclasts [6]. This is the biological mechanism of control. In society, the conservative must act as the OPG, using the tools of law, tradition, and moral clarity to restrain the liberal impulse and ensure that the necessary breakdown does not become a terminal collapse.
Conclusion: A Call for Conservative Control
The comparison is clear: the liberal is the osteoclast, the conservative is the osteoblast. The liberal’s function is to destroy, to dissolve, to make room. The conservative’s function is to create, to solidify, and to maintain.
While the osteoclast is a necessary part of the bone remodeling cycle, it is a force that must be strictly controlled by the builders. When the destructive force is unleashed without restraint, the entire structure is doomed. The liberal is a biological necessity, but only in the most limited, controlled capacity—a tiny, acid-secreting cell whose power must be constantly checked by the superior, life-affirming power of the conservative builder.
The health of our society, like the health of our skeleton, depends on the dominance of the builders. We must acknowledge the liberal’s function as the agent of breakdown, but we must never allow that function to become the defining, dominant force. The future of the body politic depends on the conservative will to build, and the conservative resolve to keep the osteoclast liberal firmly in check.
References
[1] Osteoblast-Osteoclast Communication and Bone Homeostasis. PMC. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7564526/
[2] Osteoclasts: What Do They Do and How Do They Do It? PMC. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1851862/
[3] Osteoblasts & Osteoclasts: Function, Purpose & Anatomy. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24871-osteoblasts-and-osteoclasts
[4] Understanding Conservative and Liberal Values: A Deep Dive into Worldviews. Oreate AI. https://www.oreateai.com/blog/understanding-conservative-and-liberal-values-a-deep-dive-into-worldviews/6d0bff1239e78167dedd6bf1370b9e13
[5] Physiology, Bone Remodeling. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499863/ [6] Bone remodelling: A signalling system for osteoclast. ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982298704348
