Shortchanging Conservative Paradigms and Liberal Quarter
Steven Warshawsky is one of my favorite contributors to the American Thinker, and he has written this letter to the Editor at the American Spectator Online:
WHAT CONSERVATIVE PROGRESS?
Re: Jeffrey Lord's The Conservative Victory in 2006:
In his recent article, "The Conservative Victory in 2006," Jeffrey Lord makes a compelling historical case that the dominant liberal paradigm that arose under FDR continued to thrive under Truman, despite the Republican takeover of Congress in 1946. He makes a far less compelling case that there is a dominant conservative paradigm in existence today, or that it will survive the much-feared (but probably exaggerated) Democratic takeover of Congress in 2006.
Interestingly, what does Mr. Lord identify as the major elements of the previous liberal paradigm? "[A] massive housing program, aid to education, health care, support for farmers, an increase in the minimum wage, and more civil rights legislation." Does any of this sound familiar? It should, because it still reflects the heart of the domestic political agenda: public housing programs and massive government subsidies of the private housing industry, an ever-increasing federal role in primary and secondary education, the ever-expanding reach of Medicare and related health insurance programs (steadily moving towards socialized medicine), continued wasteful agricultural subsidies and special-interest legislation of all types (recall the "bridge to nowhere"), a constant push to raise the minimum incomes of lower wage earners (whether through minimum wage laws or tax subsidies), and, always, more and more "rights" and "affirmative action" for women, racial and ethnic minorities, and now sexual minorities (see recent Supreme Court decisions on homosexual sodomy and affirmative action in college admissions).
All this despite the so-called "conservative" revolution of 1980.
For all intents and purposes, in 25 years conservatism has accomplished only two goals, albeit extremely important ones: reducing tax rates and strengthening the military. These gains largely were achieved by Ronald Reagan, and have been maintained, more or less, by succeeding Republican presidents. But that's it.
We have achieved no meaningful successes in the "culture wars." Abortion on demand is still the law of the land. Scofflaws like Ward Churchill still dominate our universities. Our artistic culture continues to be characterized by immaturity, smut, violence, and cheap anti-American propaganda. Personal responsibility in matters sexual, familial, and financial is still appalling low. Religion (or rather, traditional, Christian religion) is on the defensive in this country, indeed more so than ever.
We have achieved no significant liberalization of the economy. Federal, state, and local regulations continue to pile up, choking entrepreneurship, innovation, and even greater wealth creation. Our domestic energy industry is completely stagnant. A proliferation of labor and employment laws makes the workplace increasingly acrimonious and inflexible. Outrageous tort laws (especially in the areas of products liability and medical malpractice) routinely punish industries that employ thousands of workers and generate billions of dollars, all for the enrichment of a handful of lawyers. The hysteria over global warming and "the environment" continues to build, and will provide a ready justification for even more regulations in the future.
We have not significantly slowed the post-1960s multicultural juggernaut that is eroding American culture and fragmenting the nation into separate groups, regions, and peoples. One symptom of the paramountcy of multiculturalism is the unwillingness of our elected leaders to secure our borders and impose reasonable controls on immigration, despite the backing of the majority of the country for such measures. The recent, and ongoing, demonstrations by illegal immigrants and their supporters does not portend a positive future for this country. Bush's immigration plan promises only more of the same.
And the list goes on and on.
So where is this "conservative paradigm" of which Mr. Lord speaks? While we have some conservative-oriented politicians, who occasionally pass some conservative-oriented legislation, the truth is that on the truly big issues, America is still in the grip of the liberal paradigm that came into existence under FDR. Unless and until conservatives, and Republicans, start fighting for their country and culture with the same unyielding vehemence that the Left has pushed for its agenda for the past 40 years, America will continue down the same liberal path leading to socialism at home, weakness abroad, and the end of both the American Dream and the American Century.
-- Steven M. Warshawsky
New York, New York
(strong)UPDATE(/strong):
Mr. Warshawsky has turned this letter into a piece at the American Thinker. It~s great work; don`t miss it!
WHAT CONSERVATIVE PROGRESS?
Re: Jeffrey Lord's The Conservative Victory in 2006:
In his recent article, "The Conservative Victory in 2006," Jeffrey Lord makes a compelling historical case that the dominant liberal paradigm that arose under FDR continued to thrive under Truman, despite the Republican takeover of Congress in 1946. He makes a far less compelling case that there is a dominant conservative paradigm in existence today, or that it will survive the much-feared (but probably exaggerated) Democratic takeover of Congress in 2006.
Interestingly, what does Mr. Lord identify as the major elements of the previous liberal paradigm? "[A] massive housing program, aid to education, health care, support for farmers, an increase in the minimum wage, and more civil rights legislation." Does any of this sound familiar? It should, because it still reflects the heart of the domestic political agenda: public housing programs and massive government subsidies of the private housing industry, an ever-increasing federal role in primary and secondary education, the ever-expanding reach of Medicare and related health insurance programs (steadily moving towards socialized medicine), continued wasteful agricultural subsidies and special-interest legislation of all types (recall the "bridge to nowhere"), a constant push to raise the minimum incomes of lower wage earners (whether through minimum wage laws or tax subsidies), and, always, more and more "rights" and "affirmative action" for women, racial and ethnic minorities, and now sexual minorities (see recent Supreme Court decisions on homosexual sodomy and affirmative action in college admissions).
All this despite the so-called "conservative" revolution of 1980.
For all intents and purposes, in 25 years conservatism has accomplished only two goals, albeit extremely important ones: reducing tax rates and strengthening the military. These gains largely were achieved by Ronald Reagan, and have been maintained, more or less, by succeeding Republican presidents. But that's it.
We have achieved no meaningful successes in the "culture wars." Abortion on demand is still the law of the land. Scofflaws like Ward Churchill still dominate our universities. Our artistic culture continues to be characterized by immaturity, smut, violence, and cheap anti-American propaganda. Personal responsibility in matters sexual, familial, and financial is still appalling low. Religion (or rather, traditional, Christian religion) is on the defensive in this country, indeed more so than ever.
We have achieved no significant liberalization of the economy. Federal, state, and local regulations continue to pile up, choking entrepreneurship, innovation, and even greater wealth creation. Our domestic energy industry is completely stagnant. A proliferation of labor and employment laws makes the workplace increasingly acrimonious and inflexible. Outrageous tort laws (especially in the areas of products liability and medical malpractice) routinely punish industries that employ thousands of workers and generate billions of dollars, all for the enrichment of a handful of lawyers. The hysteria over global warming and "the environment" continues to build, and will provide a ready justification for even more regulations in the future.
We have not significantly slowed the post-1960s multicultural juggernaut that is eroding American culture and fragmenting the nation into separate groups, regions, and peoples. One symptom of the paramountcy of multiculturalism is the unwillingness of our elected leaders to secure our borders and impose reasonable controls on immigration, despite the backing of the majority of the country for such measures. The recent, and ongoing, demonstrations by illegal immigrants and their supporters does not portend a positive future for this country. Bush's immigration plan promises only more of the same.
And the list goes on and on.
So where is this "conservative paradigm" of which Mr. Lord speaks? While we have some conservative-oriented politicians, who occasionally pass some conservative-oriented legislation, the truth is that on the truly big issues, America is still in the grip of the liberal paradigm that came into existence under FDR. Unless and until conservatives, and Republicans, start fighting for their country and culture with the same unyielding vehemence that the Left has pushed for its agenda for the past 40 years, America will continue down the same liberal path leading to socialism at home, weakness abroad, and the end of both the American Dream and the American Century.
-- Steven M. Warshawsky
New York, New York
(strong)UPDATE(/strong):
Mr. Warshawsky has turned this letter into a piece at the American Thinker. It~s great work; don`t miss it!
posted by Timothy Birdnow | 5:26 AM
1 Comments:
The so-called conservative revolution started under Reagan (oddly enough RR was an admirer of FDR) is one of the biggest disappointments I have ever suffered. I have always thought conservatives stood on principals that superceded party and personal gain. What a fool I have been.
The Democrats are singular minded in their devotion to socialism and the power of the state. The Republicans can't even stand up for their own convictions let alone their party. They have pork barreled their way into the doghouse with America largely because they have abandoned every core principle we stand for. What sad and disappointing chapter to end a promising story Goldwater started in the wee hours of the liberal power decade of the 60's. I fear conservatives will never get back what we are bound to lose this fall.
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