|
A Singular Defect in Conservatism
NMB, Florida December 22, 2001 A.H. Schectman
THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on Issues, Ideas and Reflections on the Times. Published Now and
Then. Opinions Pro or Con Are Welcome.
A SINGULAR DEFECT IN CONSERVATISM
This should be titled, "A singular Defect in SOME Conservatives". But, I
don't mind spreading around the guilt I mean to pin on a few of the more
blatant "Conservatives". The chief offenders are two whom I cannot seem to
avoid when trying to listen to the news on our local news radio station.
This station, like WOR up in NJ and NY, specializes in pushing the rabid
conservative commentators. Our local station is WIOD and features Dr. Laura
and Rush Limbaugh.
I really have no argument against the now deafened Mr. Limbaugh. I read in
the paper today that he underwent a cochlear implant that has restored
hearing in his left ear. He will learn that this imbalance will dictate
how the world appears to him. He believes in his own ballyhoo that he is the
chief performer on the non-existent Excellence in Broadcasting Network
(EIB). He shuffles papers on his desk to appear to be extremely busy and he
basks in the "ditto-heads" who tell him that he is wonderful. He excoriates
anything to do with the Clintons and cannot accept any position made by
Democrats in Congress. He is not an arch conservative, he is just noisy,
irreverent and regularly distorts the truth.
Dr. Laura is another thing altogether. Her reason d'être for being on the
air is to dispense answers to questions about relationships. She has a
degree in the subject and is quite knowledgeable. If you can excuse her
"tough love" approach to many of the benighted people who come to her in
supplication, some of her advice is quite reasonable. Some of her reasons
for advice are, however, based in a Conservative approach set in concrete.
It is interesting to me how the Conservatives of this ilk wander afield
from the true Conservativism of the Barry Goldwater persuasion. These
originals used principles of not throwing the baby out with the bath water
and preferring heritage to innovation. Those are approaches that merit
close attention by the "Liberals" and "Democrats" who are often emotional
and quick to spend other people's money on impossible causes. The more
properly labeled "reactionary" Conservative, who wants to have the "Darkies"
put back in their place, is matched by the Greenie who hugs trees and sets
himself down in front of bulldozers.
My argument against Dr. Laura is that she injects the profit motive (she
sells jewelry she makes as well as books she writes) in her advice. She also
has a very narrow definition of morality that she projects into each of her
pronouncements about people's horror stories of dysfunction. That is another
thing - the morbid interest in other people's horror stories about hatreds
and misunderstandings within the family or clan.
Perhaps I am sorry that the broad-minded news purveyors of the past who
just told the news without being judgmental are no longer with us. The days
when a humorist like Will Rodgers could point out our foibles, to liberal
and conservative alike, seem to be long gone. Going further back, there were
the Irish Satires of Mr. Dooley that pinned greed by Officials to the wall
of public scrutiny.
I remember well the quiet Mid-Western tones of Elmer Davies who seemed like
a well-informed father who just told things as they were and never injected
a judgement for or against anybody. Sometimes, as a cigar can be seen to be
just a cigar, the news can speak for itself. All the indignant commentary
about America's enemies by every one of our present day news purveyors is
there because of the felt need to be "patriotic". This is only a little less
hyperbolic than what is posted in the Arab world press and television.
This is not to say that the Liberal commentators are free from similar
excesses. It is just that the Conservative Dr. Lauras and Limbaughs are so
rabid. They do not doubt their rectitude while questioning everyone else's.
Carol's Evaluation: 10 out of 10.
|
 |
|