Posted on 03/07/2006 6:08:18 AM PST by Mr. Silverback
If you encountered someone who made his own granola, bought his veggies at a food co-op, wore Birkenstock sandals, and wanted to save the environment, if you’re like me, you’d probably think, well, there goes a lefty, or a liberal, or maybe an aging hippie. But the author of a new book says someone like that is just as likely to be a conservative Republican. In his book, Crunchy Cons, journalist Rod Dreher writes about a group of people he calls “crunchy conservatives,” a group that includes, among others, “hip homeschooling mamas,” “Birkenstocked Burkeans,” “gun-loving organic” farmers, and “right-wing nature lovers.”
What Dreher, a Dallas Morning News columnist, means by “crunchy conservative” is someone who rejects the “consumerist and individualistic mainstream of American life.” This rejection distinguishes their worldview from that of mainstream liberalism or conservatism, which, in Dreher’s estimation, are both “essentially materialist ideologies.”
The result of this materialism is “a society dedicated to the multiplication of wants and the intensification of desire, not the improvement of character.” What sets Dreher’s “crunchy cons” apart is the extent to which they have recognized the corrosive effects of a culture that is both materialistic and pornographic, and they are prepared to do something about it.
They all start at the most basic level: marriage and family. Of course, the liberal and the conservative mainstream both affirm the centrality of the family. After all, apart from some radicals, everybody is for the family, right?
Well, not like the “crunchy cons” are. People like Caleb Stegall, a Kansas lawyer who is profiled in the book, don’t just talk a good game when it comes to family—their lives testify to its importance. They walk away from prestigious jobs and sacrifice a second income in order to make the time to raise families correctly.
This emphasis on family and instilling character is why many crunchy cons homeschool. As a Manhattan mother of five told Dreher, homeschooling shows her kids that their well-being is what’s most important. Instead of working to give them more “stuff,” she gave them more time instead.
This de-emphasizing of “stuff” is another hallmark of Dreher’s Crunchy Cons. It’s not because they reject capitalism or seek to appear “holier-than-thou.” It’s because they understand the importance of postponing gratification in building character. They know that people accustomed to satisfying every material want are not likely to exercise restraint in any area of their lives.
This emphasis on restraint cuts across the grain of a culture where people are taught to regard anything that stands between them and their desires as a kind of “tyranny.” So it comes as no surprise that most of Dreher’s “crunchy cons” are Christians.
That’s because Christians understand—or should, at least—how pervasive what writer Dan Knauss calls the “porno-culture” is. This pervasiveness is why protecting our kids requires diligence and commitment. Dreher’s “crunchy” conservatives—mostly “crunchy” Christians—are reminders of what the apostle Peter meant when he called followers of Christ a “peculiar people.” And it’s why these “hip homeschooling mamas” and “right-wing nature lovers” are worthy of our respect, no matter what they wear on their feet or how much granola they eat.
I will do that...
In the Internet age, we believe that things are resolved by people yelling at each other until one of them wins. But external conditions and necessities are often the determining factors. If gas prices rise, or there's some environmental or public health catastrophy, people will become "crunchier" and more environmental almost in spite of themselves and what they think now. At that point, what Dreher advocates will be taken for granted. Until then, the debate is bound to just go in circles and not get anywhere.
It's human to want what one doesn't have. Today, people turn "crunchy," unplug appliances, and go "back to the land." Their kids will gaze longingly at SUVS and everything that their parents rejected. People are like that.
To the crunchies goes the munchies. The world is populated with a lot of folk with slightly different opinions on a few items. heheh.
I sure hope you're right about homeschooled kids! They are definitely smarter and have something the ps kids don't have.... critical thinking skills.
One of the smartest young people I've met in a long time was a young Orthodox Jewish girl who went to a private school (not homeschooled) and has her own views on everything - very conservative. She's just a lovely young lady and really made me feel somewhat positive about our future, which is good, because I often feel a little pessimistic at times.
We're also looking to get hybrid cars that we can convert to PLUG-IN hybrids, that can be charged during the day from our photovoltaic cells. ;o)
Crunchy Cons, indeed!
Nah, you only really need boots if the weather is in the teens, or if there's a lot of slush.
Excellent definition!
Your plans sound lovely!
We plan on being off the grid to a great extent in the future. We want a simple place further north and then we'll spend half the year in Mexico running our beachside bar. :)
For now we have to spend the next ten years building our business so we can sell it for Big Bucks and retire by the time we're 55.
We're "Crunchy-Capitalist-Cons," I guess, LOL!
Are you series? I'm stuned.
Why should there be? If someone else wants to watch South Park that's fine with me. I don't happen to like it myself, but it's not my place to tell anyone else what THEY can or should watch.
Well in my "Not So Small" 4000sf solar powered and heated dream house, I want some big a$$ appliances precisely BECAUSE I like to cook. My kitchen is my workshop and I want good tools!
We found a manufacturer that makes metal roofing with photovoltaic cells inbedded in the material. Haven't found out how much it is, but photovoltaic is still too expensive for full conversion because of the cost of the panels. When they come down in price, the return on investment will be more reasonable.
They just profiled that roofing material on HGTV recently. They did mention the price and it was very high, but I can't recall what it was. Why not geothermal heating for water?
We looked into geothermal, but it was hideously expensive. Now that could be because we're in MA, I don't know. We hope to move back South, so that's where all this will take place, someday.
I'll have to look on the HGTV website to see if they have a link to the roofing you saw.
I believe the show is called "I Want That". It looked exactly like a wood shingle.
Those are the ones I saw at the Uni-solar site. I checked it out after the President was there last week. At one point they were doing a flexible fabric that was a solar collecter. Apparently they are so backlogged, that they aren't even going to start selling the 64W roof module until May of 2006, and that's all they'll be selling then.
Many (though certainly not all) Orthodox Jews fit the bill as "crunchy cons." Most of their money goes toward educating their children or spending for the Sabbath & holidays. Although materialism has encroached on their society as well, many manage to live quite modestly.
I believe, anyway, that conservatism breeds modesty. It's the nature of the beast. Someone who is traditional in his values & lifestyle seems to lead a more simple life. Consumerism is tied in with ego -- the need to draw attention to oneself. The more one's attention is turned toward G-d, the less self-centered, period. And the more incentive to want to pass on values to children -- as well as have children. Liberals by their very nature have fewer children, or none at all.
That’s because Christians understand—or should, at least—how pervasive what writer Dan Knauss calls the “porno-culture” is. This pervasiveness is why protecting our kids requires diligence and commitment. Dreher’s “crunchy” conservatives—mostly “crunchy” Christians—are reminders of what the apostle Peter meant when he called followers of Christ a “peculiar people.” And it’s why these “hip homeschooling mamas” and “right-wing nature lovers” are worthy of our respect, no matter what they wear on their feet or how much granola they eat.
Very nice. Thank you.
We aren't anti-technology. We have three cell phones and four computers in our house which help us connect with the world. We also don't think technology is the answer for everything. We aren't into status, but we don't begrudge those who have it. We know money doesn't buy happiness -- but we also know it can be very useful! We are devout Christians. We support the Second Amendment and the proposed marriage amendment defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman. We're pro-life. I prefer my New Balance tennies to Birkenstocks.
Some around here would call me a RINO, but I'm solidly conservative. It's nice to know I'm not alone.
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