LETTER: Burying conservatism
Editor,
Sadly it has come to pass that the hallowed conservative platform, the sound, pay-as-you-go, almost libertarian bedrock of what once was conservative politics, was found murdered in the night. In light of the fever pitch of “neo-conservative” editorializing in this and other newspapers, on national television, on pseudo-news programming, the time has come to recognize the replacement: “National Insanity.” Actually, I prefer “Neo-national Insanity,” due to the whole, “Let’s build more nukes!” time in our history.
Back in the real black and white conservative era, when I was knee-high to a grasshopper, no one confused liberals with the power structure of this country; then as now, the conservatives owned Industry, Wall Street and the Ivy League. These educated, intellectuals were having the time of their life until a mob of popularist liberals, with their religion and crazy ideas of “rights” and “liberty” started gaining from the grass roots.
Indeed it must have been a trying time for those old school insiders to see millions of poor people mobilizing anti-war, civil rights, and labor rights reforms from local churches and other non-profit groups. What many now interpret as a natural progression from our founding documents; i.e.: “human rights,” was in fact a struggle paved in blood and sacrifice, a cause that held united, individuals from a multitude of backgrounds and religious denominations.
Like any master of self-profit, conservatives knew their power-hold was in jeopardy. So in an act of pure genius, they waited till nightfall, dragged conservatism down an old logging road, and threw it in a shallow grave, reemerging with “Neo-national Insanity” and the lower/middle class took the bait. Why stand on the actual platform of economic self-interest that produces the haves and have-nots, when you can recruit the have-nots?! Why keep fighting the tired old battle with labor and civil rights movements, when you can allege it is these very movements that suppress liberty.
So rest in peace conservatism, you are survived by an insane army of foot soldiers willing to ratchet up deficits, dissolve civil rights, reverse environmental legislation, and tear down the separation of church and state – because, after all, the government needs to get out of our business!
John M. Goodell