Punk Conservatism

The American Spectator ^ | 9/28/2004 | Andrew Cline

[GoldwaterAvenger]

THOSE WITH THEIR EARS to the ground have not been surprised that punk has resonated with conservatives. Rolling Stone magazine rock critic Anthony DeCurtis told the BBC this year, "In a lot of ways in the United States, the Republicans have gotten much more punk than the Democrats."

The ingredients of punk rebellion -- introversion, angst, and teenage alienation -- belong to no ideology. To the extent that conformity is encouraged or discouraged by particular political movements, the right is now more "punk" than the left.

The left espouses group identity; the right promotes individualism. The left says we all must hold hands and sing campfire songs together; the right says, "Screw you, hippie, I'm doing my own thing."

[GoldwaterAvenger]

Finally, a journalist with the acumen to recognize how very status quo the democratic party and its spent leftist stupideology have become. They may have been able to make a punkrock icon out of perrenial loon Howard Dean, but Kerry/Edwards?! C'mon, these demosaurs are about as hip and rebellious as Lawrence Welk. Look at GWB motoring around his Texas ranch in that old jalopy pickup and then look at John Forbes Kerry sequestered in his mansion in the Hamptons or Fox Chapel and you tell me how is more punk rock!

[Pyro7480]

Johnny Ramone, who died recently, and one of the founding fathers of punk, was a Republican. He said his favorite president was Reagan.

[pookie18]

http://www.conservativepunk.com/index.html

[Physicist]

Hell, I was a punk back in 1980, when it meant something.

[ClearCase_guy]

The Left has rejected God. That fact alone has (perhaps) no relevance to a discussion about punks. However, what the Left has done, is made the Central State into their God. Thsi is true of Socialism as well as Fascism. In a twist on Christian theology, the Left says "Everything has its origin in the State. Everything receives its purpose from the State. Everything is from, and for, the State."

Punks ain't gonna go for that.

[SMARTY]

Conforming to non-conformity is conforming just the same. That's the left in a nutshell, and it has not changed since I was a student in the '70's. They have always had their 'freakier than thou' attitude and have (in my personal experience with liberals) always been THE MOST bourgeoisie bunch of jerks in the world.

[orangelobster]

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[jsubstance]

I was in a band until a month ago. You have no idea how dangerous the punk rock scene is to kids. They are being brainwashed.

[freeeee]

the right promotes individualism

[MCH]

The left espouses group identity; the right promotes individualism.

This is my own personal understanding of the difference between a lefty and a righty. If you think about it, it pretty much explains everything.

[GoldwaterAvenger]

Exactly. This very same case is made eloquently in David Horowitz's "Radical Son"--highly recommended reading. As a former founding member of the New Left, Horowitz draws a valid comparison between socialism and idolatry.

[Stellar Dendrite]

BTTT

[Jaysun]

Well forgive me if I still don't feel compelled to stop and chat with a "punker" at the store. Creepy looking sons-a-b*tches.

[GoldwaterAvenger]

Well then, perhaps you can explain in what way the ideological right promotes egalitarianism? Obviously in your two-dimensional cartoon world there is no correlation between definitions and concepts.

[Clemenza]

Ping!

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Watch what you say about Lawrence Welk!

;)

[not2worry]

Well, I'm 55 and never been a "punker", but I have talked to quite a few, just to see what they are all about.

Most of these kids are nice, just looking for attention. Most of them I have found don't have much of a relationship with their families. I think that the Republican Party in many regards is what these punkers are looking for, some kind of foundation and moral structure in their lives.

Their parents usually are Democratic, wealthy and the kids hardly see them. Can't judge a book by it's cover.

[freeeee]

perhaps you can explain in what way the ideological right promotes egalitarianism?

As a fan of Goldwater, I'm sure you're aware there are many factions of 'the right'.

The ones who dominate rightwing politics today; the country club Republicans, 'security' moms, the RNC, RINO/CINO's are those to which my comment was directed. There are no shortage of supporters of such on this website.

At nearly every turn, they show a singleminded determination to make the individual more subservient to the state. Whatever claim they had to individuality was lost long ago when the Goldwater/small government faction was driven from the party.

Of course come election time they offer cheap propaganda to the memory challenged and call themselves individualists. They compare themselves to the avowed socialists of the Democratic party to make themselves look good. I think of it akin to a skunk standing next to a roadkill claiming to smell of roses.

[mlwjones]

Punk's libertarian, so it's neither liberal or conservative, although there are issues of common interest in both.

So, punk culture is as likely to piss on political correctness and big government as it is on organized religion and military action.

Some punks tend one direction or the other but even the extreme right and left of punkhood are more anarchistic than ideological in the end.

Culturally, I will agree that punks are unlikely to join Kerry for cognac and a pleasant early evening discussion, but if Jenna and Barbara think their folks are unhip squares, life on the ranch ain't going to go over well either.

Punks would prefer to party with Bush circa 1973 or so.

[Jaysun]

Can't judge a book by it's cover.

I've never been able to apply that little bit of wisdom. To me, everyone's a cover. Just a bunch of revealing covers. I have different bits of wisdom such as, "Don't trust anyone whose head is too small for their body." It's true.