Attn Hate-Filled Angry Liberals: You're Not Going to Get Your Utopia [Lileks Alert - MUST READ!]

The Bleat ^ | November 11, 2002 | James Lileks

[Timesink]

I'm surprised nobody posted this last week when it was originally published. In any case, it's a home run by Lileks, and fully explains why we have every reason to disparage and ignore most liberals today.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Bumped to reread and appreciate even more when I'm awake. Thank you.

[stands2reason]

bump for later

[Reb Raider]

Excellent read--thanks!

[ccmay]

Personally, I’m interested in keeping other people from building Utopia, because the more your believe you can create heaven on earth the more likely you are to set up guillotines in the public square to hasten the process.

zzzing! Sure wish I could write like this.

-ccm

[Always Right]

As for the “religious right,” they are utterly irrelevant to me. I’ve been told for 20 years that they will bring a miserable double-knit Pat Boone theocracy, but the evidence seems lacking.

Ding, ding, ding. From libertarians, to moderates, to liberals, there is this unsupported fear of the religious right. They really believe that the religious right is on the verge of legislating what goes on in bedrooms. The only thing close in the last 20 years was when Alabama (a Democratic governor, I migh add) tried to outlaw vibrators. Fortunately, such stupidity was overturned.

[MrJingles]

"I’m talking about those preening sneerbots who lack the capacity for spiritual contemplation, and think that anyone given to theosophical disquisitions is akin to a small boy expecting Superman to fly through the window and help him tie his shoe."

[AFPhys]

An old friend who still believes what we believed in college took me to task the last time we met, and wondered where Mr. Middle Ground had gone, why I no longer seemed interested in finding commonality. The simple answer is that there is no common ground with people who think you’re a political leper,...

Yep... but furthermore, I've become convinced as I get older that I can not change the minds of someone unless they have already come to the uncomfortable place that they know something is wrong with their world view. Only then can I attempt to communicate with them. Fortunately for those of us who are conservative, people become wiser as they become older, and thus more conservative (in general) so we have the constant pleasure of younger folks joining our ranks. It must be very disheartening for those liberals who just can't figure it out as they get older and older as they watch their ranks get thinner. (I made the switch in my early 20's, so never experienced a friend's conversion away from liberalism... must be a bummer.)

No matter, though. All I'm interested in now is defeating them.

[Mustang]

Agree w/ your above #5 post.

That one sentence summed its author's gut.

A very good, and must, read.

Mustang sends.

[driftless]

The problem is that many people who are conservatives still vote Democratic. Because a great many of them are single-issue voters. I can talk with my sisters and my girl friend on social matters, and they will agree with me on on just about every point. But they vote Dem I'm convinced specifically on abortion of which they are all pro-choice. The same with many of my co-workers who vote Dem because "Republicans are against the workingman". Most people over the age of forty are indeed conservatives (at least here in the Midwest), but the Dems have the ability to appeal to that particular single issue which sways many people.

[AFPhys]

my observation is that the single issue voters are starting to grow up... unless they're libertarian...

[tdadams]

They really believe that the religious right is on the verge of legislating what goes on in bedrooms.

I don't think that fear is altogether without merit. Bowers vs. Hardwick was only 16 years ago and hasn't been overturned.

I'm not against any state or community defining what it's local standards and laws are, but I think selective prosecution is inherently unjust.

[tdadams]

An old friend who still believes what we believed in college took me to task the last time we met, and wondered where Mr. Middle Ground had gone, why I no longer seemed interested in finding commonality. The simple answer is that there is no common ground with people who think you’re a political leper

Back in college I had a roommate that was as liberal as I am conservative. Despite that, we got along great because we each respected each other's opinion and didn't think of each other as brainwashed idiots.

[VeritatisSplendor]

Great article, great post. Bumped and bookmarked.

[Cultural Jihad]

She’d remarked, with equal amounts of sarcasm and good-natured ribbing, that the GOP had two years to build utopia. I thought about that later while walking Jasper around the block, and thought, no; they’re not about building utopia. Personally, I’m interested in keeping other people from building Utopia, because the more your believe you can create heaven on earth the more likely you are to set up guillotines in the public square to hasten the process.

A Free State Robespierre Project bump!

[Cultural Jihad]

BTTT

[Chad Fairbanks]

I don't know how he can say we don't like interracial friendships... sme of my best friends are middle class white males...

;0)

[anniegetyourgun]

Thanks for the ping. Libs will never understand that a theocracy on earth is not possible in this age. Beyond that, it's ruling center in that day will certainly not be in the good 'ol US of A!

Their misplaced their fears of God (Someone they should fear) are projected onto His followers, who are simply bond-slaves of Christ.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Belugas?

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Woops, thought it said "white whales". My bad.