I think my main issue with AS is that it assumes that socialism would be so far entrenched that the only way to “beat it” is by letting its consequences take root.
It concedes to the failure of Conservatism to win in the arena of ideas. I understand that the left is handing out money like candy and that money can trump ideology.
Still. I’m not quite ready to subscribe to the idea that the message of Conservatism is a lost cause. I intend to continue to spar in the arena of ideas. If that is too D. Taggert or H. Reardon of me, so be it.
I understand the point: socialism can only survive off the back of capitalism, looters and moochers off of producers. What if the producers shrug? Fair enough.
What if, instead, the producers sell a better idea to so-called ‘middle people’? I still believe this to be a center-right nation. President Obama’s chief economic message was one of tax cuts, combined with a claim of a more responsible government. See my tag line.
Both Clinton and Obama won by sounding more Conservative than their opposition. McCain learned what we all knew: you can’t out-liberal a liberal. But. The reverse is also true. You can’t out-Conservative a true Conservative. Neither Clinton nor Obama could have out-flanked a true Conservative. When true Conservatives come to the table, the message still sells.
Before I shrug, I darn sure want to make darn sure that I sold the message of true compassion - and THAT is Conservatism. In the true sense of the words, “compassionate Conservatism” is an oxymoron. If you have to point out that YOUR brand of Conservatism is “compassionate”, you’ve already lost the battle.
My husband believes this is a center-right country, as well. He thinks that in 2 years, Congress will have another 1994, and that Obama will be forced to the right like Clinton was.
I am not so optimistic. As long as the people screaming “Give me pie!” are 50.1% to the pie-makers of 49.9%, we are stuck. I honestly don’t believe that PA will throw Specter out, because the “Give me pie!” people in Philly will always outnumber the God’s Country people of Potter County.
Money may trump ideology, but money eventually runs out.
I am doing all I can to minimize the taxes I pay to the looters. Cleaning out the closets and donating to worthy charities. Not exactly shrugging, but more like cutting off the blood flow to the tumor.
They first captured the press and then the modes of education.
They captured education first in the universities and then by totally infiltrating schools of education so that they could get to kids from the beginning.
They control the message that people hear and they control the means whereby people rather than learning to think become indoctrinated..
It's the main reason the Nea howls about home schooling is the ones that learn to think on their own are very dangerous.