We Need a Strong Conservative Movement in this Society

Send in the Conservatives / Where are the Conservatives / Sorry, next time.

send in the clowns

I don’t like to ring alarm bells. Even now I believe that the Trump regime will pass without serious harm to our country, its traditions and form of government. I realize, however, that in every past period when there have been substantial changes in our Constitutional interpretation of executive power, serious people were justifiably fearful that the changes would go too far. As true today as in the past, many support dictatorial power as the only way they can achieve their objectives. The use of federal troops on the streets of Los Angeles and the accompanying rhetoric is a serious break from a century’s old tradition of limited executive authority.

How calm and peaceful so much of the country the day after a “red line” is crossed. How many millions are going about their daily life without any anxiety. This is how it has always been. The overthrow of a government begins without any stirring of the breeze in town after town, small cities and large, on coastlines and inland farms. The parallel is Berlin on February 27, 1933.

I fear that many of my liberal friends are unaware of the importance of a strong conservative political party or force. A Conservative Party not a “Right-wing” Party. They are the Castle walls, the front line against radical change. Conservatives were weak in Germany after WWI. They bowed to Hitler.

The teeth of this battle against Trump and the radicals that pull many of his strings, should be Conservative.

This is the strength of a two-party system in a stable democracy. One Party to press forward and propose plans and visions. One Party to stand firm, affirm the wisdom of past advancements, and see through the illusions of many new proposals to the self-interests that stand behind.

Pirsig in his second book, Lila, used this metaphor: You raise a car with a lever. You hold the height you have obtained with a ratcheting mechanism. A joint liberal and a conservative effort.

Stable democratic societies require both principles. And the stability achieved, makes possible the further productivity, that makes available further advancement.

America has been blessed with such a dynamic. But now? Is this how the lyrics have changed?

Send in the Conservatives

Where are the Conservatives

Sorry they’re clowns.

Have we liberals chased, or should I say, ignored them away. Shunted them to academic exile. Failed to respect their insights and failed to listen to their wisdom. Failing to honor the men and women who have been instrumental in leading a Republican Party that has challenged the excesses of Liberalism, we are left with What? Margorie Taylor Greene? And the spineless?