Posted on 02/06/2007 5:42:26 AM PST by cricket
Being a full-time lawyer and conscientious blogger has really cut into my reading time, and I rarely find the time to read the books sent to me for reviews and/or plugs on Power Line. Why I Turned Right, edited by Mary Eberstadt, promised to be a partial exception to that unhappy rule. It consists of essays in which twelve conservatives explain how they ended up as such, I figured I'd read the three or four by the writers who interest me the most.
In the end, I read the whole thing, and so should you. The essays essentially narrate the intellectual voyages of twelve leading thinkers under a certain age (I'm guessing around 60, with the average age under 50) who can be considered conservative. They are: Peter Berkowitz, Joseph Bottum, David Brooks, Danielle Crittenden, Dinesh D'Souza, Stanley Kurtz, Tod Lindberg, Rich Lowry, Heather Mac Donald, P.J. O'Rourke, Sally Satel, and Richard Starr.
Not all of them actually turned right. Lowry was never other than a conservative -- his tale is about how he became an armed and dangerous one. Crittenden was always conservative -- her tale is about how she shed the feminism of the 1970s. O'Rourke came from good Republican stock and returned to something like his roots after getting (in his telling) as much sex as he could from the "fetching" girls of the left who wore "peasant blouses, denim skirts, and sandals" and "strummed guitars, smoked unfiltered cigarettes, and drank beer straight from the bottle."
The essays I enjoyed most were by those who turned right as a result of studying or working in a discipline that isn't (or, rather, that shouldn't be) political. I'm thinking in particular of Heather McDonald and Sally Satel, whose movement Rightstarted when they were studying comparative literature and practicing psychiatry, respectively. (I could also include Peter Berkowitz and Stanley, who have studied many things -- some political, some less so -- and been influenced rightward in all instances).
Here's Mac Donald on the deconstructionists:
The professoriate has been given the greatest luxury society can offer: studying beauty. All that they needed to do to justify that privilege was to help their students see why they should fall on bended knee before Aeschylus, Mozart, or Tiepolo, in thanks for lifting us out of our usual stupidity and dullness. Instead, they set themselves up as more important than the literature and art that it was their duty to curate and created a tangle of antihumanistic nonsense that merely licensed students' ignorance.
And here's Satel on what she learned working on mental health issues during a Capitol Hill fellowship:
My Hill experience gave me a startling insight: Liberals and conservatives seemed to have mirror-image approaches to paternalism. Liberals made intrusive laws for the competent while conservatives preferred to rely on individuals to make their own decisions. Conversely, conservatives preferred intrusive laws for the incompetent to whom liberals applied a hands-off policy. Liberals were comfortable with public health paternalism: intrusive nonsmoking laws, taxes on unhealthy products, strict risk-averse EPA and FDA regulations. . . .
. . .Yet, when a person was incoherent, defecating in the streets, or freezing a limb off in the park, then -- and only then -- did the principles of autonomy apply.
As I suggested, read the whole thing.
Posted by Paul at 07:30 PM | |
Have noticed the same incongruity offered by a Party; who by their exclusive superiority are convinced that the citizens cannot choose which fat to fry his french fries in; nor buy a toothbrush that does not have a Federal seal of approval; cannot vote with 'paper and pencil; and who cannot be trusted to raise; educate; dicipline and feed their own children without the guiding government 'nannyhand' - is the same Party who determines American International policy; 'Global missions' and our Iraq war strategies; by confirming the 'will of the people' by daily poll.
. . .and while I'm at it; a correction: . . .that the citizens. . .
My boggest beef was Carol Brauner's decree that we had to switch to front loading washing machines to save water when consumers had unequivocally voted for top loaders to save their aching backs.
Because that is the party that promotes chaos, subversion and anarchy to keep them in power.
As a former dope smoking hippie leftist, antiwar protester, I can only say that experience, wisdom and opening my eyes caused me to turn right.
Also, when the Jimmy Carter administration was followed by Ronald Reagan administration, I learned to love America again. Hence, my screen name.
Welcome to the "Right" side from one who also smoked and protested.
The wisest and most cautious of us all frequently gives credit to stories which he himself is afterwards both ashamed and astonished that he could possibly think of believing . . .
It is acquired wisdom and experience only that teach incredulity, and they very seldom teach it enough. - Adam Smith
I turned right- my parents are committed Dems. Every political discussion becomes a bitter argument (I can handle the disagreement, since I'm used to the battle of ideas on the blogosphere, but they can't). It is very unpleasant, and it makes me understand why many people stay in the party of their parents.
The same people who crowed and boasted about Clinton's low unemployment rate now say that the same rate under Bush is lousy because most of the jobs are burger-flipper ones. I say to them, "wasn't that the case then under Clinton?" Oh no, they say, "under Clinton everyone had great jobs." Which is of course baloney. But their beloved news shows told them that Americans are struggling. And they believe it.
My parents are also Dems. Our disagreements do not become bitter, but I do keep asking them how devoted Catholics can vote for pro-abortion candidates. No answer so far.
Know the feeling of futilety here; but don't give up. . .
(That said; I chose a European front-loader; and can now, never turn back ;^) )
Which brings to mind another incongruity; the Party that takes such pride; by it's own idea of 'choice'; as in the euphemism pro choice; works overtime to insure that by all means possible; and in truth; we have absolutley none.
I love that. . .and bump for a 'Great American'. . .
Only caught part of Neil Cavuto's interview yesterday where he was speaking with a 'religious Leftie' representing some organization supporting left-wing candicacy; while advocating the Dems tax hikes.
The justification here was the Biblical quote of 'Matthew'. ..the oft heard 'to whom much is given' much is expected' ; albeit perhaps not EXACT quote here. . .
While I take no issue with the wisdom here; it amazes me that they assume by this; that Matthew was directing 'some more superior 'other' to act on MY behalf. That the Bible gives them the RIGHT to assume my charity. That those who cloak themselves in the mantle of 'State' have a right to confiscate; and are so justified, because the Bible tells them so. . .
I wish Neil had reminded them of the Commandments; 'Thou Shalt NOT Steal'. . ."Thou Shalt not Covet they Neighbor's Goods'; and both of which embody a 'Thou Shalt Not Kill' (includes one's spirit. . .and all to which indict the Left's philosophy of 'taxes').
Might have given the arrogantly verbose Leftie; a much needed pause.
I remember the frontloading Bendix my mother had when I was a kid, and I remember seeing waer spilling over the floor when it stopped.
We had the 'front-loading' Westinghouse; and often the same problem. Did it myself not so long ago; when being used to my top loaders stopping upon opening; I somehow imagined the same convenience when using a euro front-loader; albeit an old one; in a small kitchen while 'out-of country'. . .
I guess I should not have been surprised by what happend; post opening that door to add socks. . .
Having gotten used to, the value of the 'locked door' current upgrade. . .I nolonger have that problem; or the option. ;^)
Well there was an 'inflation' of wages per jobs for a while during the Clinton 'bubble'; when many burger-flippers by way of 'job demand' if not by their talents; turned to 'other' employment and were rewarded - temporarily.
Some of those folks perhaps, still waiting for the return of jobs that promise 'their worth'; but, yes; by and large. . .perception is Reality and the Left creates it daily; and always in their favor; and so it is with 'the economy'. . .the job index and latest unemployment crisis. . .
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