Misogyny and Racism
David Brooks, my favorite thinking conservative, writes for the New York Times. I don’t think Brooks is the kind of ‘conservative’ that the GOP has become with its zealots and Tea Party caucus in this era of nullification of President Obama. And why do we now refer to the President as Mr. Obama? This further denigrates the Office of the Presidency. President Obama is President. He will be Mr. Obama or former President Obama when he leaves office early next year. Call me traditional, but I respect the Office even with those I disagree holding said office. The Representatives and Senators that I speak to, email, or Tweet are referred to by their title.
Brooks latest column explores possible reasons why some dislike former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton so much. An aside. Local, State, and Federal hopefuls for re-election or election are beginning their ad onslaught here in Oklahoma. Many in my area use the word “conservative” as part of their ad as an adjective for their way of seeing the world. Why is it important that a candidate for Sheriff note he is a conservative Republican? That’s not a particular reason to vote against him or for him unless he sees politics as part of being Sheriff which is a good reason to vote against a candidate. I’m one that thinks politics does not belong in law enforcement and policing. So, what does conservative or conservatism mean?
Conservative or Conservatism:
a : disposition in politics to preserve what is established
b : a political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, stressing established institutions, and preferring gradual development to abrupt change; specifically : such a philosophy calling for lower taxes, limited government regulation of business and investing, a strong national defense, and individual financial responsibility for personal needs (as retirement income or health-care coverage)the tendency to prefer an existing or traditional situation to change
(“Conservatism.” Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 24 May 2016.)
Based on that definition and simple observation of those that proudly and loudly claim ‘conservative’ as the adjective, compass, or perspective from which they practice their politics and order their worldview, I observe that a conservative would prefer male white patriarchy to the changing color, ethnicity, and gender of American political leadership. Limited Government for these candidates, from what I’ve observed, means bringing back the “Wild West” with guns, supporting life in the womb, but not with the economic infrastructure, education, and health care that makes it possible to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. Having read Brooks for a few years now, he is not the kind of conservative that deals in soft racism and misogyny that has come to the forefront during President Obama’s tenure in the White House. Many in my State legislature are the kind of conservatives whose legislative priorities are converting these United States into the collection of Nation States that make up the EU. They call it ‘states rights’ or ‘religious freedom,” but simple observation indicates that the New Confederacy would undo much of the social and civic contract that holds the United States together. They are, simply, trying to create ‘gated states’ to hold onto power and segregate. This is a post for another day.
Why is Clinton Disliked?
David Brooks, The New York Times, May 24, 2016Clinton’s unpopularity is akin to the unpopularity of a workaholic. Workaholism is a form of emotional self-estrangement. Workaholics are so consumed by their professional activities that their feelings don’t inform their most fundamental decisions. The professional role comes to dominate the personality and encroaches on the normal intimacies of the soul. As Martyn Lloyd-Jones once put it, whole cemeteries could be filled with the sad tombstone: “Born a man, died a doctor.”