I’m a conservative fan of the show. I’m not sure, but it sounds like you have a straw man view of conservatism.

I’d argue that the realities of the show made me more conservative as I got older because it illustrated the necessity of strong family life, gainful employment (and how immigration seems to have stepped all over the prospect of that for so many people; goes well with season 2), and the tragedy of the welfare state. Many things have been lost due to the drug trade, welfare state, and the decline of family life (especially among poorer people).

At the end of the day, I don’t think David Simon was badmouthing conservatism in that show at all. The show would have really sucked if it was some nakedly partisan nonsense. He humanized characters in the police, the drug trade, and everywhere else.

If he badmouthed anything, it was our institutions.