One of the concepts that conservatives need to rethink is the idea of self-government. An ancient institution which might help them in this meditation is the Vehm. Self-government (if it means anything) can only be subordinated within a system to either something "higher" (the sacred King or Imperial ethos), or within a properly constituted and organic federal structure. It goes without saying that modern America is neither, but is a Dystopia, a dysfunctional patronage-state controlled (to the extent it is) by special interest groups and a common illusion. Culianu's "sorcerer-state" comes to mind. Self-government under these conditions will have to look elsewhere to see what real self-government looks like.
