Social media was supposed to make the world smaller and help us all connect. Predictably, it’s had, in so many ways, the opposite effect. If you want to talk in terms of quantitative data, you can argue we communicate more, and with more people. But qualitatively, people’s preferences to communicate via social media and their mobile device is seriously hurting our ability to connect, as humans. This is especially true for teenagers, who’re still developing their social skills. (Or, in this case, still stunting their social skills.) With the help of apps like Snapchat, friends are organizing their conversations…
Why conservatives don’t like government
It’s an idea we take for granted, but do people truly understand the issues conservatives have with government. 1. Government workers are not accountable. We think of government workers as the politicians we elect, but that’s a small fraction of government workers. Most government workers are bureaucrats that work behind desks creating or enforcing rules with no accountability. In the private sector, business thrive or fail based on how well they serve their customers. A business can deliver a great product, but if they fail on customer service, it could put them under. One unforeseen twist of fate can…
The answer to everything: state rights
There’s been years of reporting on how divided our country has become, and it’s so unnecessary. We’re always going to have disagreements, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But the source of our current divide is that people have lost the ability to disagree. We don’t know how to have debates, if not arguments, but realize that, in the end, we’re all on the same side. We need a solution, and I’m confident I have one. This will remove all of the bitterness and resentment between liberals and conservatives. The answer to all that ails our society is right…
The value of privacy
Back in the days of routine attacks on the “religious right,” liberal politicians would often say that conservatives want to know what’s going on in your home. But the truth is that’s simply not the nature of conservatives. Conservatives usually want to be left alone and, in turn, want to leave others alone, as well. Conservatives have a strong sense of right and wrong, and they are certainly judgmental. But being judgmental is not the same as telling everyone how to live. Telling people how to live is creating restrictions on salt intake, trans fats, what we can eat,…
The virtue of capitalism
What makes one think a government employee or elected representative is more virtuous than a private sector employee or CEO? What’s the difference between the government workers and the private sector workers? The difference is that government workers and elected representatives get to decide what’s best for people and make the rules with absolutely no accountability. Government workers – especially unelected bureaucrats, don’t answer to anyone. But when it comes to the private sector, you have to answer to the consumer. One can do business however they want – honestly or dishonestly, shrewdly or poorly – but only market…
The conservative perspective on charity
There’s two ways to dole out charity: Lower taxes so people can keep more of their own money. Then let those people give some of their money (and time) to the charity they choose to support. That charity, which usually knows best how to spend that money, will make sure to get the most for that dollar, or.. Allow the government to forcefully take as much money from people as they decide is right so they can redistribute that money to the people they decide need it most, while tying up a greater percentage of every dollar in the…
Ode to Rush
Today, Rush Limbaugh made the absolutely stunning announcement that he has stage four lung cancer. My reaction was instant: How in the world could I ever get by without Rush Limbaugh in my life? I first heard Rush on the radio in June of 1989, about nine months after he started. I was 19 and about four years into developing my conservative political thoughts. That Summer was already memorable because I joined a construction crew to try and make as much money as possible for studying abroad. The construction company knew I was a “college boy” and gave me…
The secret history of conservatives and race relations
Perhaps the greatest ongoing miss by the Republican Party’s marketing department – the worst marketing department in the history of marketing departments, is on race. It’s not a stretch to say nearly no one knows the conservative history as it relates to racism. As we head into the 2020 election, now would be the perfect time for President Trump to address race in this country. By sharing the Republican history on race, he could single-handedly change the Democrat narrative that all conservatives are racist. Did you know Martin Luther King was a registered Republican? Were you aware that Lincoln,…
Inconvenient logic
This impeachment was kicked off by the idea that President Trump asked a foreign leader to dig up dirt on a potential political rival. Joe Biden is running for President, and Trump was asking for information about the potential corruption of Candidate Biden and his son, who seemed to have gotten a cushy job at Burisma simply because of who is father is. Apparently, it’s bad if that’s what Trump is doing. Fast forward to the upcoming impeachment vote, and Senators Warren, Sanders, and Klobuchar are all going to be asked to vote on whether or not their potential…