What To Do

What a difference a month makes. Last month I was full of hope and a little trepidation (but I hid the trepidation) over the political prospects for the coming primaries. Now, I see that I should have kept my usual cynicism regarding the intelligence of the typical Republican voter. I have been meaning to write about this for some time. I am going to take my wife out for dinner now and I will complete this when I return.

OK. Wonderful dinner. Now it's Sunday and I have but a few minutes to write before church. Where was I? Cynicism, right. OK...back from church. So I have been avoiding the subject, hoping that it is all a really bad nightmare. Lunch was roasted chicken breast and lettuce topped with buttermilk ranch dressing. Yummy.

The typical Republican voter. Is there such a thing? There must be. Millions of them. Could that many people be so easily misled? What could lead otherwise intelligent people to commit mass political suicide? Lies? Deception? Ignorance? No. There is some other social dynamic at work here. The same dynamic that leads (former) conservative icons such as Newt Gingrich to endorse the most liberal Republican Congressman in the history of the party for reelection against a real conservative member of the state GOP.

I have written here before, in debates with members of ThePublicSquare who look only from one election cycle to the next, counting seats in Congress and in the General Assembly, that what really matters is how we lead. Are our leaders capable of articulating the ideals embodied by conservatism as they apply to the issues facing us today and will likely face us tomorrow?

Unfortunately the answer is still a sickening 'no.' When Newt Gingrich publishes a book called, ironically enough, "Real Change," then goes on to make sure that Real Change never happens in Maryland, it is an indicator of what is wrong with the right wing of the party. He has convinced himself that, oh it's ok. It's just one Congressional District. Surely the country can still affect Real Change and still allow me to return a favor to my ol'pal Wayne, who was so loyal to the Republican Congressional delegation way back when. Surely, I will not suffer the cries of hypocrisy from my loyal followers.

And he was right. It's just one district, just one vote, just one concession, one compromise. Surely it won't hurt. Well, it has. And we have only ourselves to blame. We have not challenged every single instance of liberal conformity. We have allowed ourselves to bear the shame and guilt of our distant forefathers for the treatment of the black American. Instead of bringing them up, society choose to 'celebrate' the black socio-economic status as a separate 'culture,' with its own unique language, dress, social customs, music and religion. If this isn't racism at the hands of liberals, black and white, then I don't know what racism is. If you ask a liberal racist he will tell you that the very act of my describing this racism-as-multiculturalism is an act of racism.

And we, conservatives black and white, let it happen. It's just one vote, one concession. Surely it won't hurt. It may even help us win converts to the Republican party! Now we know the cost, the cost of the 'soft bigotry of low expectations' even before George Bush uttered those words, decades before.

Landmark civil rights legislation was the work of Republicans in Congress. It has been used against the Republican party since it's passage. The "civil rights" movements (women and animal rights) that followed joined the unions of government institutions electing liberal majorities until Mother Nature herself was relegated to a legal disclaimer on employment forms and loan applications.

And we went along. Never considering what long-term effects our 'one little vote or concession' might have; never a thought to how it would be used against us in the coming culture and class wars. It's been 44 years and blacks still don't see the value in joining the Republican party. Why? Because they didn't have to; Why follow when you are already leading? Our "leaders" found it easier to concede conservative principles rather than articulate them. Persuade black voters that if faithfully applied, conservative principles will lift all boats? Too hard. Persuade union workers and feminists to vote for conservatives? Who needs that?

And we are doomed when a talented and popular writer comes along who can articulate conservative ideals, is shunned. Imagine that you are lost in the desert, have nearly given up all hope of living out the day. Just as you are ready to expire, a woman kneels beside you and offers you water and with your last breath you draw a weapon and drive her away. Madness, you say? Your last thoughts are, oh she was not really interested in saving my life; she was just interested in promoting herself. I'd rather just die.

So you see, we have only ourselves to blame. Our elected leaders, our party leaders, movement leaders, business leaders. Could we have stopped the onslaught? We will never know. What will we be lamenting after four years of President Hillary Clinton?

Mike Netherland
Severna Park, MD