One of the first columns that David Brooks wrote for the NYT bemoaned the lack of conservatives in our major universities, particularly in tenured positions.
Now, Brooks notes that 90% of working journalists voted for Kerry in the election.
What's really going on here?
Is there some VAST LEFT WING CONSPIRACY to keep conservatives out of intellectually challenging positions?
The Born Agains are complaining that they are being laughed at by liberal elites, who consider their religious views to be intellectually backward.
And, of course, the rich just want to abolish the Federal Budget outright, with its "evil" progressive tax system, by any means necessary.
IS THERE A TREND HERE? ARE CONSERVATIVES STUPID OR JUST GREEDY? Or perhaps, a little of both?
Amazingly, I don't think that stupidity or greed is the key here.
It's really a matter of "Pronouns!"
LIBERALS TEND TO THINK IN TERMS OF "WE."
AND CONSERVATIVES THINK IN TERMS OF "ME!"
CHOOSE YOUR OPERATIVE PRONOUN?
AND ALAS, YOU'VE REVEALED YOUR POLITICAL BIAS!
That's why conservatives tend to be "under-represented" in serious public policy circles:
Public Policy discussions at the university level, or in the major media, tend to be discussions about the "we" aspects of our society and economy.
What is good for "the body politic."
What is best for the public as a whole.
Please note that this type of public policy discussion often says nothing about: "My Tax Cut," or "My Special Issue."
YOU CAN'T GET A TENURED UNIVERSITY PROFESSORSHIP ARGUING FOR: "MY TAX CUTS!" OR "MY SPECIAL ISSUE." UNLESS IT'S AT BOB JONES UNIVERSITY.
CONSERVATIVES OFTEN FIND THEMSELVES ARGUING THE "ME STUFF."
WHEN ALAS, EVERYONE ELSE IS TALKING ABOUT THE GOOD OF THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL---THE "WE" STUFF.
Get it?
It's not that Liberals "hate" conservatives.
It's just that conservatives "don't get it." They are on the wrong "wave length." They're talking "me" --when everyone else is talking "we."
And, when the conservative "me" starts toward "my religious views," or "my money" any public policy aspects go out the window completely.
There have been attempts to "intellectualize" the conservative "Politics of Me"-- with supply side theory, and "invisible hand" arguments.
But alas, its still not really public policy--
It's just an attempt to conjure up a theory for something that is basically greed and selfishness, or often outright ignorance....
With mantras like: "Greed is Good."
or worse..., I voted "My Values."
http://gloomanddoom.blogspot.com
