Introduction: quid pro quo?

NEOCONSERVATIVISM is everywhere! In North America, it dominates both major political parties in Canada and the USA. It has become the prevailing socio-political norm. Nowadays it seems more like theology than ideology: to dare to question is equivalent to a violation of the sacred; renders one suspect of possibly having 'socialist' tendencies...

In Canada, during the federal coalition "scare" in 2008, the NDP (New Democratic Party) were constantly referred to as "the socialists", with dripping contempt and the utmost disdain.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has referred to Canada as being in danger of becoming a 'socialist' country "in the worst sense of the word". (Reasons given for the contempt, the disdain, or what 'the worst sense of the word' means are never forthcoming.)

Is Neoconservatism the cat's meow? The End of History? Have we finally arrived? What, exactly, is it? And, more importantly, does it really work?

Hmmmm... Or... ought we to dismiss it outright- and with the utmost contempt?