The Difference between Conservatives and Leftists
Both sides have issues, but the lack of honesty and insight by the left makes political discussion almost impossible.
Brief personal history: I grew up in the 1960’s, had friends fight in Vietnam and thankfully, all returned in one piece, but not to say undamaged. I viewed myself a liberal, but I think the meaning of the term has changed. I was always an “America First” individual, hated what was happening in Vietnam, but had a different take. I loved history and studied WWII as a hobby. I knew the military forces of the United States could march across Vietnam and defeat the north easily. I presumed that the sophisticated negotiators had rational reasons for fight a halfhearted war.
The differences in politics hardened over the years and events like Kent State made me question the leadership in our country. My career unfolded in politics at the state level. I began a lifetime body of work that exposed me to both elected officials and everyday citizens, activated by an issue or problem in their communities. I was the Director of an initiative funded federally in cooperation with the Association of Governors selecting ten states to explore how to engage the public in decision making in education, social services and crime. I was happy to have a quality staff team. One remarked about a year into the project that “we’ll all become Republics”. This was a response to a common discovery: our centralized, top down approaches to issues that were emerging in our states communities were not embraced. We turned to advanced performance-based contracting and watched as communities took on complex local issues. The county public health system was required to provide epidemiological support as communities grappled with issues effecting families, youth drugs and crime. There was always a sense that local level discussions were mostly pragmatic and doable. I became Republican!
But most of my colleagues stuck to “liberal” thought though I had trouble understanding if it was liberal at all. Fast forward to retirement and casting a vote for Donald Trump. The hardening (and, quite literally the dishonesty) of the lefts position caused me to not see them as “liberal”.
Now, our republic is completely divided. What strikes me is the nature of the members of both sides. Republics identify “RINO’s”, Republicans in name only. We scratch our heads. Moderate leftists are cancelled, called names and threatened. The handful of Democrats that dare to deviate from the party line, even if their constituents approve, are destroyed by the party. As a Republican, I’m disappointed by conservatives that side with democrats, but I don’t issue threats (see Schumer, Waters as the most disturbing) and support riots in the street. The “protests” outside the Supreme Court Justices’ homes, and recent assassination attempt of Justice Kavanaugh are not condemned by elected democrats, nor are actions taken to protect them. It is, after all, a violation of federal law to protest at Justices’ homes.
So, the most distinguishing differences between leftists (I refuse to call them liberals because they are anything but liberal) and conservatives is the left hating and disregarding the laws and foundations of our Republic. Republics still believe in America.
Democrats should be trounced in November 2022, but I suspect the rage will continue. Middle American is not going to put up with the hate. I believe that mockery is our current best answer: I do not support offensive efforts of violence, but the left is mis-calculating the level of resistance they will provoke if they continue the rage. We must mock because the left refuses to engage in real dialogue.