The larger problem is fundamental. Conservatives largely just want to be left alone, and they view life as a "live and let live" mindset. Democrats and Leftists on the other hand, are activists. They are not content with living their lives; they want to control everything, everyone and feel very strongly about how you should live your life.
So we end up with the Left constantly pushing the Overton Window, sometimes violently, while the Right tolerates as much as possible just to avoid getting embroiled into their war games. Yes, there are activists on the Right, but they are minimal, and largely confined to the abortion issue. Yes, there are more conservatives "fighting back," but it's not their natural disposition. Conservatives are generally not control freaks, and don't wish to tell others how to live. There is a reason that libertarians identify much more closely with the Right than the Left. Conservatives will get involved generally when it affects their own life or family, which is what is happening on almost every issue now.
I believe that the Trump movement was an extension of the failed Tea Party movement, which itself was an exclamation of "enough is enough." When you see these people, they are not shouting how Leftists must live, but shouting about preserving their OWN way of life.
The problem is that when almost every institution in America has been thoroughly coopted by the left, there aren't many tools to fight with, and we are at the bottom of the proverbial hill, looking up at some very formidable fighting forces. Sacrifices would need to be made, and that's a big ask when most conservatives value their families more than anything else in the world. I'm not saying Leftists don't, but Leftists see politics and activism as an extension of family life, whereas conservatives seek to protect their way of life from politics. Witness how many Leftist women brought their daughters to the "pink hat" march on DC when Trump was inaugurated.
We (conservatives) have to fundamentally change how we view our civic involvement. We have to get into "war" mode and fight them the way they fight us. At the end of the day, most true believer Leftists are weak or mentally ill. These are not strong people, and they certainly don't have rational positions on many of their issues. They are emotional and struggle to control their behavior. These people should be relatively easy to outsmart and defeat.
But we need more of us to step up and ASSERT ourselves, whether it be in your child's school board, your local town's board, or simply in a position in your HOA. Everywhere one of us can have a voice, is another opportunity denied to a Leftist to have a platform and shape our futures. F' these people.
This is exactly what the colonists did in the 1770's. They just wanted to be left alone, but the King's army was not going to allow that. They had to give up wealth, peace and security to defeat tyranny.
We are getting close to the same existential crisis for this country. How many will step up?
I agree but I also think the left is more patient. It’s taken them a generation to get this far- a series of incremental wins and institutional conquests. We conservatives don’t have the strategic mindset to take small victories that accumulate over time.
I agree that the older Leftists are more patient. They know that they can only generate so much societal change in so much time and they play to that.
But the younger college-aged Leftists (and there are many) do not have such patience. They are petulant, screaming "protestors" who would rather have a temper tantrum than think strategically about the long arc of history. If they don't get what they want, they will attempt to cancel you and embark in personal warfare.
This is the instant gratification generation, and I don't see them waiting much time at all before requiring complete capitulation by the Right.
All this is true but Trump is not the guy to fight them. They have won the high ground and Trump is a frontal assault type of guy and he will get butchered by innuendos, misdirection, fake scandals, etc - just like they did to him during his Presidency. The only way to fight and win is with a stealth candidate. Someone who knows how to play the political game enough to get elected and who is ruthless enough to change the terms of the game once elected. The Paul Ryan type Republican got the economics right but lost the war because they thought the culture stuff was beneath them. They did not want to be associated with the Tea Party and Christian Right so the did not defend them. What the Ryan's got wrong was that the culture stuff gets you elected. The Dems created a new religious culture and ran on that. They ignore economics and use culture to get elected. I hope DeSantis is that electable ruthless guy. Trump is not electable.
I think we all sense that DeSantis is that guy. I think that's why the Left fears him much more than Trump. They know Trump's weaknesses, but DeSantis has not yet shown any.
We all also know that the media smear campaign of DeSantis is coming. They will brand him with the same exact criticisms as Trump -- racist, bigot, uncaring, corrupt, etc.
They've done this to every Republican nominee and president for as long as I have been alive. And much of the population falls for it, over and over again.
From the 2006 book The Freedom Manifesto by English author Tom Hodgkinson:
“The Western world has allowed freedom, merriment and responsibility to be taken from it, from ourselves, and substituted with greed, competition, lonely striving, greyness, debts, McDonalds and GlaxoSmithKline. The consumer age offers many comforts but few freedoms. Governments by their very nature make endless attacks on our civil liberties. Health and Safety is wheeled out as an excuse to extend government powers”.
I forgot to add "Recycling doesn't work". It's not economically efficient unless confined to metal, and perhaps glass.
The larger problem is fundamental. Conservatives largely just want to be left alone, and they view life as a "live and let live" mindset. Democrats and Leftists on the other hand, are activists. They are not content with living their lives; they want to control everything, everyone and feel very strongly about how you should live your life.
So we end up with the Left constantly pushing the Overton Window, sometimes violently, while the Right tolerates as much as possible just to avoid getting embroiled into their war games. Yes, there are activists on the Right, but they are minimal, and largely confined to the abortion issue. Yes, there are more conservatives "fighting back," but it's not their natural disposition. Conservatives are generally not control freaks, and don't wish to tell others how to live. There is a reason that libertarians identify much more closely with the Right than the Left. Conservatives will get involved generally when it affects their own life or family, which is what is happening on almost every issue now.
I believe that the Trump movement was an extension of the failed Tea Party movement, which itself was an exclamation of "enough is enough." When you see these people, they are not shouting how Leftists must live, but shouting about preserving their OWN way of life.
The problem is that when almost every institution in America has been thoroughly coopted by the left, there aren't many tools to fight with, and we are at the bottom of the proverbial hill, looking up at some very formidable fighting forces. Sacrifices would need to be made, and that's a big ask when most conservatives value their families more than anything else in the world. I'm not saying Leftists don't, but Leftists see politics and activism as an extension of family life, whereas conservatives seek to protect their way of life from politics. Witness how many Leftist women brought their daughters to the "pink hat" march on DC when Trump was inaugurated.
We (conservatives) have to fundamentally change how we view our civic involvement. We have to get into "war" mode and fight them the way they fight us. At the end of the day, most true believer Leftists are weak or mentally ill. These are not strong people, and they certainly don't have rational positions on many of their issues. They are emotional and struggle to control their behavior. These people should be relatively easy to outsmart and defeat.
But we need more of us to step up and ASSERT ourselves, whether it be in your child's school board, your local town's board, or simply in a position in your HOA. Everywhere one of us can have a voice, is another opportunity denied to a Leftist to have a platform and shape our futures. F' these people.
This is exactly what the colonists did in the 1770's. They just wanted to be left alone, but the King's army was not going to allow that. They had to give up wealth, peace and security to defeat tyranny.
We are getting close to the same existential crisis for this country. How many will step up?
we can no longer be silent.
I agree but I also think the left is more patient. It’s taken them a generation to get this far- a series of incremental wins and institutional conquests. We conservatives don’t have the strategic mindset to take small victories that accumulate over time.
I agree that the older Leftists are more patient. They know that they can only generate so much societal change in so much time and they play to that.
But the younger college-aged Leftists (and there are many) do not have such patience. They are petulant, screaming "protestors" who would rather have a temper tantrum than think strategically about the long arc of history. If they don't get what they want, they will attempt to cancel you and embark in personal warfare.
This is the instant gratification generation, and I don't see them waiting much time at all before requiring complete capitulation by the Right.
I forgot to add in the #metoo movement.
Her Husband Jesse grew up three doors down from me and was one of my best friends growing up. Laura is a legend!
How has Prof Hollis avoided cancelation? Everything she wrote contradicts The Narrative.
This was outstanding. Very well dissected and explained. Thanks much. I'll be reading this over and over again.
All this is true but Trump is not the guy to fight them. They have won the high ground and Trump is a frontal assault type of guy and he will get butchered by innuendos, misdirection, fake scandals, etc - just like they did to him during his Presidency. The only way to fight and win is with a stealth candidate. Someone who knows how to play the political game enough to get elected and who is ruthless enough to change the terms of the game once elected. The Paul Ryan type Republican got the economics right but lost the war because they thought the culture stuff was beneath them. They did not want to be associated with the Tea Party and Christian Right so the did not defend them. What the Ryan's got wrong was that the culture stuff gets you elected. The Dems created a new religious culture and ran on that. They ignore economics and use culture to get elected. I hope DeSantis is that electable ruthless guy. Trump is not electable.
I think we all sense that DeSantis is that guy. I think that's why the Left fears him much more than Trump. They know Trump's weaknesses, but DeSantis has not yet shown any.
We all also know that the media smear campaign of DeSantis is coming. They will brand him with the same exact criticisms as Trump -- racist, bigot, uncaring, corrupt, etc.
They've done this to every Republican nominee and president for as long as I have been alive. And much of the population falls for it, over and over again.
I am for competition, not coronation. Happy to watch Trump fight it out with all comers. The important thing is you cannot Liz Cheney the winner.
America looks forward and Trump is the past. Time to move on.
He might not be. But, I would be happy to see a competitive primary.
From the 2006 book The Freedom Manifesto by English author Tom Hodgkinson:
“The Western world has allowed freedom, merriment and responsibility to be taken from it, from ourselves, and substituted with greed, competition, lonely striving, greyness, debts, McDonalds and GlaxoSmithKline. The consumer age offers many comforts but few freedoms. Governments by their very nature make endless attacks on our civil liberties. Health and Safety is wheeled out as an excuse to extend government powers”.