Re-framing the debate: What Conservatism is and What is Wrong w/ it?

[vet_against_Bush]

This is a small bit of an article posted on a local blog "The
Commons." This article exposes modern conservatism and offers some
very good advice for the future of democracy. Here is a small taste:

"Conservatism claims that the universe is ordered by absolutes. This
would certainly make life easier if it was true. The difficulty is
that the absolutes constantly conflict with one another. When the
absolutes do not conflict, there is rarely any controversy. But when
absolutes do conflict, conservatism is forced into sophistry. In the
case of Elian Gonzalez, two absolutes conflicted: keeping families
together and not making people return to tyrannies. In a democratic
society, the decision would be made through rational debate.
Conservatism, however, required picking one of the two absolutes
arbitrarily (based perhaps on tactical politics in Florida) and
simply accusing anyone who disagreed of flouting absolutes and
thereby nihilistically denying the fundamental order of the universe.
This happens every day. Arbitrariness replaces reason with authority.
When arbitrariness becomes established in the culture, democracy
decays and it becomes possible for aristocracies to dominate people's
minds."

The full article:

http://polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/pagre/conservatism.html

[noiretextatique]

1. YES!!! this is what we should be talking about

instead of offering up gays, people of color, women, the poor, workers, etc as sacrificial lambs. more later...

[RevCheesehead]

2. It's that damned "black and white thinking"

or "all or nothing" that gets them stuck.

Old, but still true:

[vet_against_Bush]

3. The rest of the article is long but all of us need to read it imo nt

[oscar111]

4. Pyramid is conservatism in a word.

black and white thinking is true, but a minor facet of RW mind.
---------------
useful summary of the core of all
the points listed:

RW is Pyramid {of power and money}

Democracy, or LW, on the other hand, is Levelling of power and money.

LW vs. RW... Level vs Pyramid
{best little summary anywhere, i say}
-----------
Useful also,

"money is power
and power is money.

That is all ye know,
and all ye need to know"
Keats, "Ode to a Grecian Urn".

[vet_against_Bush]

5. kick, nt

[vet_against_Bush]

6. I know this article is long but it is worth it! nt

[noiretextatique]

7. thanks for posting this very interesting and timely article, vet

i have to get back to work now, but the article is fascinating...and it is long :D i got through about half of it, and i will finish it up tomorrow. it's a must read...i think many on our side could benefit from this too.
one of the many issues the author raises that struck a chord with me: the function of wedge issues.
since last week, there have been several posts here offering up various groups and issues as unworthy of democratic support: women/abortion, african-american (in particular)/affirmative action, lesbians and gays/gay rights.
the poison of conservatism has affected many who call themselves democrats as well, and not just on a personal level, but in terms of how we view the american public. americans are NOT *conservative*; they have been told that they are. our side really needs to understand that so we can stop trying to out-conservative the conservatives. the DLC is an example of the conservative element within the democratic party, and its goals are very much compatible with those of conservatives in the republican party.

[vet_against_Bush]

8. kicky, nt

[noiretextatique]

9. KICK

:bounce:

[Hamlette]

10. great read....especially the part about what we must do

who the hell is there to get this started? I hate just talking about it. We need someone with political capital to start raising money to do this. I'm in.

[noiretextatique]

11. to all those interested in selling off issues and groups to attract voters

please read this article. thank you.