In a
recent episode of Prager University, Greg
Gutfeld advised conservatives to tell liberal agitators why
they are conservative:
recent episode of Prager University, Greg
Gutfeld advised conservatives to tell liberal agitators why
they are conservative:
"I'm
a conservative, so that you can be a liberal."
a conservative, so that you can be a liberal."
I had
a really hard time taking in what Gutfeld had to say about conservatives and
conservatism.
a really hard time taking in what Gutfeld had to say about conservatives and
conservatism.
In fact, I was outraged as well as disappointed.
I am not a conservative so that other people can ruin
their lives or mine, or make me pay for their mistakes.
their lives or mine, or make me pay for their mistakes.
I am a conservative because I love life and liberty,
and I reject a culture of death. I am a conservative because truth is
comforting and strengthening, because the truth sets me free and allows me to
be creative, expansive, prosperous, and healthy.
and I reject a culture of death. I am a conservative because truth is
comforting and strengthening, because the truth sets me free and allows me to
be creative, expansive, prosperous, and healthy.
Throughout Gutfeld's four minute lesson on "Why
the Right is Right," I was left with a bad taste in my mouth. Gutfeld gave
a gut-full of wrong ideas and bad lessons about conservatism, and why more
people should join the conservative movement.
the Right is Right," I was left with a bad taste in my mouth. Gutfeld gave
a gut-full of wrong ideas and bad lessons about conservatism, and why more
people should join the conservative movement.
Perhaps it's a semantic issue, but certainly in
today's word, the agitators for liberty are hardly conservative, at least in
the narrow sense of preserving the status quo. Yet let's keep the term for
convenience's sake.
today's word, the agitators for liberty are hardly conservative, at least in
the narrow sense of preserving the status quo. Yet let's keep the term for
convenience's sake.
!["https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i6rvobbF40k/VjkhokaDgJI/AAAAAAAABvU/t_NKFo8aJf4/s1600/Greg%2BGutfeld.jpg"](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i6rvobbF40k/VjkhokaDgJI/AAAAAAAABvU/t_NKFo8aJf4/s1600/Greg%2BGutfeld.jpg")
I am not right i .e. conservative because it allows
other people to be irresponsible and uncaring. I am conservative because that
is the caring, responsible, and only right way to live, to have life.
other people to be irresponsible and uncaring. I am conservative because that
is the caring, responsible, and only right way to live, to have life.
Contrasting with Gutfeld, I further do not agree that
liberals have more fun than conservatives. Polls and studies have shown that
conservatives on the whole are happier and better off than liberals, even the
wealthy leftists who use their resources to push a regressive, elitist agenda
at the expense of everyone else. Why are all those rich liberals so unhappy? In
fact, many liberals embrace unhappiness, because they live with no sense of
life or voluntary constraint. Their heedless il-liberalism creates emptiness,
frustrations, and heart-aches. Poverty is the norm for those who live in
bondage to their feelings rather than submitting to loving discipline and the
grace of God.
liberals have more fun than conservatives. Polls and studies have shown that
conservatives on the whole are happier and better off than liberals, even the
wealthy leftists who use their resources to push a regressive, elitist agenda
at the expense of everyone else. Why are all those rich liberals so unhappy? In
fact, many liberals embrace unhappiness, because they live with no sense of
life or voluntary constraint. Their heedless il-liberalism creates emptiness,
frustrations, and heart-aches. Poverty is the norm for those who live in
bondage to their feelings rather than submitting to loving discipline and the
grace of God.
No, Mr. Gutfeld, liberals are not really liberal. They
are the one's who are truly risk-averse, choosing to use other people's time,
resources, and money for their own regressive ends. They create risks for
others, and then shame you for not bowing to their will.
are the one's who are truly risk-averse, choosing to use other people's time,
resources, and money for their own regressive ends. They create risks for
others, and then shame you for not bowing to their will.
People who live right, who live by freedom, and the
opportunities and consequences which accompany it, do not embrace conservative
values just because. Conservatism works and has a proven track
record for doing so.
opportunities and consequences which accompany it, do not embrace conservative
values just because. Conservatism works and has a proven track
record for doing so.
Consider another example. Climate alarmism is based on
false data. No truth to it. The issue is not about whether we can or cannot do
something about the warming temperatures, or the sudden El Nino weather
patterns. The matter rests on whether there is a problem which has to be faced,
dealt with, etc. Climate change is a natural phenomenon. There have
been warm and cooling trends over hundreds of years. The technologies and
innovations of today have removed many of our concerns about these problems.
Why are we getting alarmed, again?
false data. No truth to it. The issue is not about whether we can or cannot do
something about the warming temperatures, or the sudden El Nino weather
patterns. The matter rests on whether there is a problem which has to be faced,
dealt with, etc. Climate change is a natural phenomenon. There have
been warm and cooling trends over hundreds of years. The technologies and
innovations of today have removed many of our concerns about these problems.
Why are we getting alarmed, again?
The left, illiberal hordes, godless, secular forces at
work in our communities, are not interested in the truth. They are interested
in power, in having control over others. Liberty is our antithesis, and the
only staying force which matters. However, in every heart rests the beat
to push for what is best for ourselves and our families. No matter how much the
illiberal, regressive interests in our midst want to press a collective
conformity of good will on us, there is the truth of what matters, and the
reality that self-interest working within the confines of natural law trumps
anything that government, force, or compulsion can offer.
work in our communities, are not interested in the truth. They are interested
in power, in having control over others. Liberty is our antithesis, and the
only staying force which matters. However, in every heart rests the beat
to push for what is best for ourselves and our families. No matter how much the
illiberal, regressive interests in our midst want to press a collective
conformity of good will on us, there is the truth of what matters, and the
reality that self-interest working within the confines of natural law trumps
anything that government, force, or compulsion can offer.
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher could not
have said it better during her first successful campaign in 1979: "Labour
isn't working." The left-wing talking points, shouting matches, and
political slugfests of labor unions, bureaucrats, and petty academics were
simply WRONG! Wrong not just for Britain, but out of step with reality, whether
in trade, human nature, or biology and natural force. The facts not just on the
ground but understood and withstanding the tests of time always have been, and
always will be. The Declaration of Independence declares (present tense!):
"We hold these truths self-evident."
have said it better during her first successful campaign in 1979: "Labour
isn't working." The left-wing talking points, shouting matches, and
political slugfests of labor unions, bureaucrats, and petty academics were
simply WRONG! Wrong not just for Britain, but out of step with reality, whether
in trade, human nature, or biology and natural force. The facts not just on the
ground but understood and withstanding the tests of time always have been, and
always will be. The Declaration of Independence declares (present tense!):
"We hold these truths self-evident."
Conservatives are not risk-averse. They just calculate
with what is true, not just what is rational, in our minds but absent from our
concrete, daily lives. Great acts and events manifest all the time, even when
they do not make sense to our small minds and curtailed understanding. The
unshifting elements of political economy and human nature, of individual
liberty and limited government, are lasting, eternal, right and true.
Conservatives understand this, then strike out accordingly.
with what is true, not just what is rational, in our minds but absent from our
concrete, daily lives. Great acts and events manifest all the time, even when
they do not make sense to our small minds and curtailed understanding. The
unshifting elements of political economy and human nature, of individual
liberty and limited government, are lasting, eternal, right and true.
Conservatives understand this, then strike out accordingly.
In short, I would say to Mr. Gutfeld and to all
liberals in general:
liberals in general:
The Right is right because. . .it's right!