Our family attorney grew up outside of Centennial in Albany County.
He relates a story that is so old-school Wyoming. A political event was held at the Old Corral, the only place big enough for the meeting. A neighbor named Joe drove by and stopped briefly to talk with those gathered outside. Inside, someone pointed out that Joe is a Communist. The place fell silent.
Then someone called out, “Yep, but he is OUR Communist.”
In Wyoming, we have always measured people by how they carry themselves, how they treat others, and whether they do what they say they’re going to do. Actions speak more clearly than words and being a good neighbor is more important than who you are or what you believe. The Code of the West, adopted by the State Legislature in 2010, isn’t just words on paper. Those words have been passed down through generations - by people who knew that honor was more important than headlines.
As our politics grow louder, angrier, and more divided, it’s worth asking: how do today’s political movements measure up against The Code of the West?
Classic Conservatism: The Cowboy Spirit in Political Form
Classic Conservatism has a lot in common with The Code. Both emphasize personal responsibility, moral character, and respect for tradition.
Edmund Burke, widely regarded as the father of Conservatism, believed that society is a contract between the past, present and future. That sentiment echoes in the cowboy’s duty to finish what he starts and ride for something bigger than himself. Having witnessed the excesses of the French Revolution, Burke held that restraint, not rage, is a sign of strength.
An American political theorist, Russell Kirk revived conservative thought and influenced 20th century political philosophy. He argued that property and freedom are closely linked, true reform arises from reflection and diversity of experience should be valued over uniformity. That lines up with the charge to talk less and do more as well as “know where to draw the line.”
This political philosophy and The Code share a deep respect for inherited wisdom, community responsibility, and the idea that freedom comes with obligation. They speak the same language but with different accents.
Contemporary Conservatism: Familiar Words, Fading Values
Today, much of what is called “conservative” looks different. It’s more performative, more combative, and often more interested in winning the news cycle than preserving time-tested values. It still uses words like freedom and tradition but too often trades substance for spectacle; more focused on fighting culture wars than conserving anything.
The Code says, “be tough, but fair.” But modern politics rewards combat, not fairness. Social media thrives on constant outrage and noise. It’s at odds with “talk less and say more,” and creates echo chambers that encourage tribalism.
Those values are lost entirely when “ride for the brand” becomes loyalty to person or group over principle. Conservatism at its best is about stewardship and accountability.
Populism: The Temptation of Fury
Populism thrives on division between “real people” and the “corrupt elite.” Its power comes from tapping into real frustration, alienation and a feeling that ordinary folks are being isolated and ignored.
While The Code is about restraint, populism is about amplifying outrage and suspicion against enemies. And when those enemies cannot be identified from outside, populism finds them from within. Instead of “do what needs to be done” and “finish what you start,” populism promises the moon, blames others when it falls short and burns bridges in the process.
The Code says, “know where to draw the line;” populism erases it by justifying bad behavior because “the other side is worse” or holding that the ends justify the means.
But cowboys don’t make excuses; they make things right.
A Way Forward
Technology and electronic media accelerate everything in a whirlwind of noise and turmoil. We need a moral compass that grounds us, that provides an anchor to what matters most. And we have one.
The Code of the West isn’t a partisan document. It doesn’t belong to the Left or the Right. It belongs to anyone who believes that actions matter more than words, and that character is something you build over time.
If we’re serious about conserving what makes Wyoming special, we’d do well to stop shouting and start listening; to each other, to the land, and to the Code that still holds true.
