Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Minority
Super Tuesday confirmed something that I’ve long suspected. We conservatives are truly a minority in the population, even within our own party. The only reason we’ve been able to get anywhere is that we’ve had allies with similar interests. The religious right, the libertarian small government types, moderates - all are willing to buy into pieces of our agenda or to independently advance pieces of our agenda for their own reasons. They are even more willing to buy in when one of theirs is in charge, like Bush, or when someone charismatic gets going, like Reagan.
The problem is, they seem to be willing to ditch our principles whenever one of these sorts of people come along. Take Huckabee. Christian, and not even close to a conservative. Yet, the religious right fawns all over him. And Obama - moderates and the chronically undecided were attracted to Reagan because he was inspiring. People want a leader, someone to tell them “it’s going to be ok”, and if they can work hugs, puppies, rainbows, and “we can get along if we try” in there too, so much the better. Obama is delivering that in spades, and as far as I can tell, the all-important moderates and undecideds are eating it up. Honestly, I half believe that a candidate’s charisma is the main decision-making criterion for swing voters, and that these moderates largely decide elections. Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, Bush II - every time the more charismatic guy won. But that’s a topic for another post.
National Review endorsed Romney.
Think about that for a minute.
The self-anointed journal of the modern American conservative movement endorsed Romney.
Who’s out of the mainstream now? Them? No, they’ve made a pragmatic choice. I’m out of the mainstream for thinking that the conservative choice for president should actually be a conservative.
We make a choice in being a part of this country to abide by and respect the rule of law. That rule of law comes from the will of the people, and though we are not bound to agree or respect their will, we are bound to accept and tolerate it. The Founders intended it this way, and still, even after Super Tuesday, even after McCain, even after having it proven to me that I am in the minority, I wouldn’t have it any other way. We conservatives aren’t big on political life, except to the extent that we are forced to participate to protect our rights.
We believe there’s more to life than this.
Our progressive opponents and our erstwhile enabling “allies” can screw things up, badly, if they try hard enough. But they cannot take away the good things in life. I will still farm, read, teach, speak, listen, think, and homeschool to pass my values on to my kids. Even nationalized healthcare can’t take that away from me.
We are small fish in a big pond. There are lots of other fish, and a strong current. Sometimes we go where we want, other times we have little control over the direction of things. But always, for the forseeable future, we maintain the power to live our lives as we see fit.
One improved unit. All we really have the power to do is present ourselves to society as one improved unit, and hopefully set a good example that other people of similar values can recognize.
As frustrating and demoralizing as the events of this week may have been, we would be better off spending our energy that way than moping.
We are the conservative movement. Act like you are the only one in the world, and you won’t be that far off. Live it, breathe it, do it. Don’t be surprised when the rest of the world thinks you are nuts and throws stones.
And vote. Don’t expect the world to hand you a candidate you like, because they won’t. Vote pragmatically, for the side that is least likely to screw things up. Understand that if we get power, it will be a fleeting moment of convenience brought about by some alignment of our “allies”. Throwing a tantrum because we can’t have it all is stupid, because we are a minority.
Accept that, start acting like it, and take the high road.
Comments
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“for the foreseeable future we are able to live our lives as we see fit”
Well, maybe. I can easily foresee a future where I will be branded a felon for being a firearms enthusiast and having the “wrong” type of gun. Or being in a position where I can chose between paying the mortgage and paying for “mandated health insurance”. Anybody who thinks the middle class is going to get cheap health care out of this is nuts. We are going to pick up the tab for every one else. And we we are not going to be able to choose our level of coverage, it will be state mandated so we will be forced into an expensive plan we hardly ever need, to help fund the system. I am not talking theory here ,I had to go through this in WA state. Our Insurance commissioner, Deborah Senn (may her name be cursed) managed to wreck the heath insurance industry here. All but a hand full of insurers left the state, and the plans they were allowed to sell were very expensive, because of mandated coverage. The concept of a free market is anathema to these people. So I don’t smoke, drink a little, do not eat to excess. and in general take care of myself, and in the end I am penalized by the state for being healthy.
To me, this is not living my life like I see fit. To me, this is extortion. Socialism is living my life the way THEY see fit.raven | 2/7/2008 12:31 AM CDT -
Hmmm, I want to believe it.
But I don’t. I already tolerate Socialist interference that prevents me from living as I see fit. Rule of law? Yes, the law of the Consitution. Tyranny of the majority? I believe the operative phrase is, “from my cold dead hands”.
If we’re out of the mainstream then it’s because the stream is wrong. I have to endure it, but I refuse to accept it. I understand your point AF, but I cannot rest easy knowing that my good American values are being run roughshod by theives, charlatans, and scoundrels who pose as fellow citizens to live off my work. It’s not just my expense--that’s a minor irritation compared to the knowledge that this treachery will bankrupt our nation morally, cuturally, and financially (dang, we’re already two-thirds there). The country we love is being killed from within by a malignant ideology of entitlement from top to bottom.
I usually come away from your posts with a bit of resigned optimism (or at least encouragment), and I appreciate it. However, this one fills me with dread.
There is more to life than this. God help me if I want to see it made better for decent people.
Dr. Feelgood | 2/7/2008 10:48 PM CDT -
I’m out of the mainstream for thinking that the conservative choice for president should actually be a conservative.
‘Conservative’ and ‘Republican’ are not synonyms. What are referred to as ‘social conservatives’ are just one faction within the Republican party.
This is why calling other Republicans RINOs and demanding litmus tests before supporting a candidate are counter-productive, and ultimately destructive. The first-past-the-post system used in the US strongly favors having two major parties, this results in each of those two major parties being a coalition of mostly-compatible interest groups, not a club where everyone agrees with everyone else and the only quibbling is over the details.
It is good that you have realized this, hopefully other conservatives will come to understand this as well.
rosignol | 2/8/2008 01:40 AM CDT -
The problem with voting for the lesser of two evils is that it’s STILL evil. You just get to help decide whether it crushes us an inch at a time or all at once.....
jimbob86 | 2/8/2008 09:13 PM CDT -
Bhah, Cry me a river. The ideal of liberty was mortally wounded a long time ago, and has been dead for most of century now. It makes me laugh now that when people say they are for liberty they barely even peg the live free or die meter. That conservatives’ are considered radicals now is just a cherry on the coolwhip.
Tomare Utsu Zo | 2/9/2008 05:45 AM CDT -
Dr Feelgood:
I desperately want to see it made better for decent people too, but I’m trying to be realistic about how that can be accomplished.
What can we do when the majority of the populace disagrees with us? The ideal case is to form our own communities. That option has been pretty much destroyed by the uniformity that came with federalism.
The next best case is to convince the populace at large to agree with us. Given that the population continues to shift urban (or urban exiles screwing up rural areas), I don’t expect the center of the American political spectrum to go anywhere but left unless something drastic happens. I think we can make short-term gains in certain areas (gun control and defense after 9/11 for example), but the population wants it’s squishy European socialism, and I think we will incrementally get there whether we like it or not.
Then… what’s left?
My instinct is to turn inward. Improve myself, try to be an example for others, raise kids that will do the same. Will we make a global difference? Maybe not, in the short run. Will they be seeds for something in the future? Perhaps. Or maybe my grandkids will be. Who knows when circumstances will be right.
None of this means I am any less irritated by the current political situation than you are, or that I’m giving up the fight. I’m just trying to recognize that we ARE a minority, and adapt to it. Resigned optimism is a good word for it, I think.
American Farmer | 2/9/2008 07:24 AM CDT -
“The problem with voting for the lesser of two evils is that it’s STILL evil. You just get to help decide whether it crushes us an inch at a time or all at once.....”
True. And given that I generally prefer to minimize human suffering if given the choice, I’ll go for an inch at a time. It also buys time for the pendulum to swing back the other direction.
One thing that both mystifies me and gives me hope is the reaction in ‘94 to Hillarycare last time it was seriously introduced. It appears that America still had a serious kneejerk reaction against massive socialism then. Whether or not the catalyst for that reaction still exists in the populace is anyone’s guess.
American Farmer | 2/9/2008 07:37 AM CDT -
Tomare:
First of all, “live free or die” clearly means different things to conservatives and libertarians, so I’m not all that concerned that I don’t live up to your standards.
Second, what are you doing to “live free or die” that the rest of us are unwilling to do? If thinking free thoughts and supporting Ron Paul is it, I’m not impressed.
American Farmer | 2/9/2008 07:42 AM CDT -
*Smiles* I wish I could answer fully. But that would be stupid. What I can say, is I am fighting tooth and nail against the inertia of the current political situation. If it is possible to convince the liberty minded to stop pushing against tyranny as if we were strong, and instead use that inertia against them (think aikido) this story might have a happy ending. *shrugs* We all do what we can.
Tomare Utsu Zo | 2/9/2008 08:24 PM CDT -
“My instinct is to turn inward. Improve myself, try to be an example for others, raise kids that will do the same. Will we make a global difference? Maybe not, in the short run. Will they be seeds for something in the future? Perhaps. Or maybe my grandkids will be. Who knows when circumstances will be right.”
Don’t get me wrong, I fully agree with your sentiment. I, too, work on becoming a better person and raising kids who will want to make a difference. I’m willing to smile and nod and tolerate what I consider social misdeeds, until they begin to encroach on my ability to “turn inwards”. I fear that we’re on the precipce.
Precisely because urbanization is continuing it’s leftward pull on society I expect that within a few very short years the U.S. will be perilously close to the model being sculpted in Europe. Socialism will not only force me to contibute against my will, it will prevent me from living my private life (especially as it relates to raising my family) as I see fit. Nanny’s big fat nose is going to come poking on a scale heretofore unseen, and that thought keeps me up at night.
I hope, like you, that ripe conditions come quickly for reversing the trend, but I think it’s going to get a whole lot worse before that happens.
Dr. Feelgood | 2/11/2008 02:59 PM CDT -
“I’m willing to smile and nod and tolerate what I consider social misdeeds, until they begin to encroach on my ability to “turn inwardsâ€. I fear that we’re on the precipce.”
I can put up with a lot too. I know what you mean.
I will scream and holler and yell about nationalized healthcare until the day I die. If/when it gets passed, I will not move.
I will fight every step of the way when it comes to gun control. Still, if/when it gets passed, I will not move.
The very second my right to homeschool is taken away, I will either disappear underground or find someplace where I am able to do it freely. There is NOTHING more important to me. I don’t see that as on the immediate agenda of the socialists, so I’m cautiously optimistic on this item.
American Farmer | 2/11/2008 07:23 PM CDT -
Civilizations come and go. As the western world becomes increasingly urbanized, living in artificial environments, choices will increasingly be made based on fantasy rather than reality. In the end reality wins and the world moves on. A majority of people will become conservative again once this current wave of utopian fantasies has crashed and burned, and reality is apperant to all. Store the words, hand down the ideals until that time, and hold the line against tyranny and chaos wherever possible in hopes that the next generation may repeat fewer of our mistakes when they are called upon to make that which has been broken work again.
Crux | 2/13/2008 01:11 AM CDT
