As a Conservative, I have been labeled closed-minded, harsh, intolerant, and I’m sure many, many other things behind my back. The thing is, that’s standard fare. We’re called racist, homophobic, misogynist ogres on a regular basis. A lot of times worse. Why is that? What makes us so hate-able?
The very principles that define liberalism require liberals to detest conservatives. They really can’t help it. To them, change and “progress” are everything. If things are not changing, then they must be backwards and irrelevant. They are conditioned to despise the way things are, and focus on what could be. The problem with this is that some things are what they are because they are supposed to be that way. Some change is necessary. Conservatives understand that it’s ridiculous to try and reinvent things for the sake of “progress”.
I have a confession. I like the idea of liberalism. I think that it’s a really pretty picture. Everyone has health care, housing, food, and general financial support. Those that have more helping those that have less. I’m a Christian. I love the idea of everyone being taken care of. I do understand why they have the vote of youth yearning for an idyllic world.
However, that I also know that it doesn’t work in real life. It’s a generally accepted idea that socialism and communism are epic failures in practice. So why is America headed in that direction? Because, as a nation, we’re not calling it what it is. There was a glimmer of hope when Obama’s answer to Joe The Plumber’s question was played everywhere. That wasn’t enough to convince America that we’re headed down the slippery socialist path.They shouted even louder and discredited Joe instead of focusing on Obama’s answer – which was the heart of the problem.
When we use the words “socialism” or “Marxism”, liberals and the media (one in the same, in most cases) write it off as far right hyperbole. They make it sound like we’re being so ridiculous that no one could POSSIBLY take us seriously. And the masses, who don’t know anything the media doesn’t tell them, listen. They shroud their message in feel-good “hopeandchange” rhetoric – the nation follows blindly.
Why do they listen? Because the liberal voice is so much louder than the conservative one. By their very “progressive”, uninhibited, self-empowered nature, liberals are more vocal. They value rule-breaking and pushing limits, and are willing to do so if it will get them heard. This is the root of the corruption, riots, and outspoken hatred of all that is conservative. They shout loudly enough that they cannot be ignored.
Our best course of action? Be the stability that our country needs. Stick with the basic conservative ideals. Our principles are the rock that this country is founded on. Liberals can only shout for so long – they will eventually lose their voices. What do we have to say once they are silent? Be ready.
Yeah but you know they Hate the change happing in Chicago and Hate the change the public is feeling towards Obama and his bromance with the Gov
I agree. Modern Liberalism is light years away from the Classical Liberalism that Conservative and Republican political thought is founded in . Modern Liberalism is a hate filled ideology which preaches a nihilistic vision of the world and forces it’s adherents to continually break the civilized world down one piece at a time until nothing is left.
Good commentary. Enjoyed the read.
My friend is doing his Master’s Thesis on The Graphic Design of the Obama candidacy and how it compares to propoganda from the past. I think you’d enjoy it Tabitha
What do you think are the basic conservative principals?
And, for the sake of argument, do you think the Republican Party (I know R’s and conservatives are not synonymous) should continue to stick to conservative principals even if it costs the R’s elections? (I realize that there is a very good argument to be made that R’s have lost precisely because they have not stuck with those principals). In other words, pragmatism or idealism in politics?
I don’t know, I think you’re way off the mark here. Then again, I don’t “hate” conservatives. I just don’t particularly like the tone of know-it-all, inflexible arrogance that so many of the conservative movement’s loudest mouthpieces feel the need to use in order to make the case. Particularly when it comes to addressing “liberals”, or even those who lean any degree left of center. Perhaps that is motivational to the base, like minds and all of that. But when I’m trying to explore different viewpoints and perspectives in the larger world, it’s a real turn off. I suppose what I’m trying to say is that conservatives tend to be incredibly exclusionary when it comes to making their case to the masses (as you term them). I’ve come to believe that’s by design, and that the movement isn’t interested in anyone with less than pure conservative thought synapses joining the fold.
they know there ideas are bankrupt
Great post, Tabitha. I came out of Berkeley and grew up with the liberal/radical viewpoint. It wasn’t until I got into the real world and learned how business worked and how planned economies, no matter how well-intentioned, make bad decisions, that I learned to appreciate free markets and choices. When I was born again in the 80′s I understood how shallow my amoral lifestyle really was and how important are the values passed down to us through our families, churches and communities. Keep up the good fight!
Thinking Is Presuppositional:
In my mind, the most basic conservative principles are small government and accountability. There’s a little more too it than that, but stripping it down to it’s core, that’s what I feel is the most important. The government is there to protect us from each other – not ourselves.
As far as the Republican party is concerned, I think you’ve answered your own question. I think that they’ve lost elections because they’ve lost their principles. They don’t even know what they stand for anymore – how can they expect the rest of the country to support empty ideals? They had a choice between a real liberal and a liberal pretending to be a Republican – they chose the real thing. Winning elections does no good if you’re not going to enact policies that are beneficial – so yes, the Republicans should hang on to conservative values even if they lose. Which they won’t, if they figure out how to be conservative again.
Jennifer:
The loud, intolerant mouthpieces of the LEFT were who I was addressing in this. The Keith Olbermanns and Chris Matthews’. I think you’re right – condescension gets you nowhere – no matter what side you’re on. And I think exclusion is completely relative. For example, as a middle class white Christian, I feel incredibly excluded from the left. And there are a lot of people in my demographic – I’m sure I’m not alone. What I’m getting at is that the same can be said for both sides.
I don’t believe that it’s by the design of the right at all. Your argument plays right into my point – liberals see conservatives as intolerant because we don’t believe that the majority should suffer for the sake of a few.
yes jennifer, those intolerant conservatives you speak of spew their points with a know-it-all attitude and are inflexibly arrogant. Perhaps, though, this is a reaction to being tagged as “knuckle dragging, intolerant, homophobic, misogynistic, racist, war-mongering, selfish, greedy, stomp on the poor, mouth breathers” (did I forget any?) and being dismissed as such for so long. Like begets like.
“Like begets like” and really, where does that take the dialogue in the country? Spinning in circles with a “your corruption is more corrupt than my corruption” and a “you’re stupid, no you are” flair. I agree, Tabitha, that the same criticisms can be leveled at both sides and then cancel out each others’ noise.
Somewhere along the way, there has to be a break in doing things the way they’ve always been done just because they’ve always been done that way, or this country will just keep spinning its political wheels and stay stuck in neutral.
I guess what I’m saying is, don’t we deserve better? All of us? And if so, where’s the reasoned loyal opposition to be found?
Jennifer:
I agree that some things need to change – I said in my post that I thought some change was necessary. What I disagree with is throwing out our constitution and reforming things for the sake of reforming them. There’s a big difference.
Once again Tab….Amen
God Bless & hav a GR8 day !
You are amazing at saying what i am thinking!!
Great post and great blog!
Pup
Very perceptive punditry Miss Hale. Glad I took the time to follow the links here. Keep it up, this nation needs voices like yours. Pierce the darkness with your lightstand…
Your article is right on point! Liberals really ARE enamored with the entire concept of “change” with little thought about whether the change is actually an improvement. Their paradigm is, “Change is ALWAYS good.” NOT! Thanks for writing this. You’re a national treasure!
To Jennifer:
The reason why you feel that was is that your core political beliefs are not deduced by reason, by a held belief in the principals for the good. For anyone to have an opposing opinion would go against your “beliefs” of good. That is not a good feeling for you and understandable why you would push the debate away naturally. If you believe in your cause is good rather if the cause really is good then you wouldn’t want to here anything different. That’s why this article nails it on the spot. Socialism is a great a beautiful picture, the problem is humans are flawed, greed, jealiously, laziness, are all natural aspects to a lot of individuals. That’s why socialism and communism have never worked in the past. Now liberals want to reinvent this and bring it back to light. An elephant is still an elephant even if you changes its name. So to some up what I was saying, You can not argue with a liberal, because they do not formulate their opionions by policies, mechanics, or facts. Liberals form their views by their beliefs in what they think is good.
Good post. I have noticed that liberals hate conservatives. I don’t know why, but they despise us. I don’t despise them (I view them as a little misguided, but I don’t hate them personally). But when we express our conservatism, we always risk being labelled hateful and irrelevant in the name of Progress, Equality, and Tolerance.
I don’t even hate liberalism either. However, it seems to me that despite all the vaunting of their uber-tolerant status, they can’t empathize at all with conservativism.
(footnote: all you moderates and reasonable liberals out there, I am not referring to you. Say, if you can, try and take back the Democratic Party from the radicals in control now, wouldya?)