By Peter Pavarini
Okay, maybe it was never cool to be conservative. Since the 1700s the word “cool” has been used to describe someone in control of his or her feelings[i], but its contemporary meaning came from a slang expression used by Black jazz musicians during the 1940s. By that definition – that is, being “hip” or edgy – conservatives have never really been in the running for coolness.
Why Is Conservatism Seen Negatively by the Left?
The purpose of this blog is not to explore the etymology of the word “cool”. Rather, it asks why conservatism is portrayed as a cultural backwater in today’s world. [ii] As the late Andrew Breitbart said: “politics is downstream from culture”. Unless the Right is willing to fight the larger cultural battle, it’s unlikely to reverse the steady Leftward drift of the American electorate.
As of this writing, polls are predicting that GOP candidates will generally do very well in this year’s midterm elections. However, those victories will mean little unless conservatives also seize the chance to win the hearts of those who may, for a variety of economic and personal safety reasons, cross party lines and vote for Republicans. Surely, these swing voters know what conservatives have long known – the country is headed in the wrong direction.[iii] Yet, most of these people still bristle at the thought of being called “conservative”.
So, who can be rescued from the dismal swamp of progressivism? Obviously not the hardcore Leftists. Twenty percent of voters (give or take) fully accept the myth of a global, borderless utopia managed by a small number of educated elites. For these sorry folks, socialism’s promise of equity and safety is just too cool to trade for anything conservatives have to offer – particularly the fundamental rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.
The Left’s “Useful Idiots”
Lenin had a name for the 30% to 40% of American voters who self-identify as “liberals” but are not hardcore Leftists. He called them “useful idiots”. They say they love America and its freedoms, but mostly vote against their own interests. Unfortunately, they’ve been held captive by the Far Left – immersed in an unending torrent of propaganda. They hear it at school from their teachers and peers, at home from the media and favorite celebrities, and now at work from their bosses. And why wouldn’t they believe all the negative things said about the Right? Everyone needs a scapegoat to blame for their problems. Why not attribute what appears to be wrong in America to those “evil”, “racist”, “fascist”, “homophobic” – yada yada – MAGA Republicians?
In the short run, conservatives are unlikely to change the minds of these swing voters by debating with them. [iv] However, if we are really serious about saving America, we’ve been given a window of opportunity to change their feelings about conservatives.
What We Learned from the Anti-Smoking Campaign
For the most part, whatever success the US has had reducing the number of cigarette smokers over the past 50 years cannot be attributed entirely to the medical science. After mishandling the COVID epidemic, if today’s public health officials (e.g., Dr. Anthony Fauci) said tobacco smoke was terrible for your health, would anyone trust them? No, the public has long known that smoking is an unhealthy, dirty habit – long before cigarette sales began to plummet. Instead, the decline in smoking largely came from making cigarette smoking less “cool.” Watch an old Humphrey Bogart movie if you don’t believe that. As cigarette smoking became less glamorous and smokers were increasingly shunned by society, many decided to kick the habit to remain socially accepted. Others, who in previous generations would have smoked, have never started.
Applying this reasoning to the current political divide in our country, not only should we try to make conservatives more appealing to non-conservatives, but we should also make Leftists as unpopular as a cigarette smoker in a California health food store. How can we do this?
Changing What People Say About Conservatives
It starts with changing the vernacular used to describe conservatives. If you visit an online source like Thesaurus.com, you’ll find that all but the first few synonyms given for conservatives are either pejoratives or factually inaccurate. Yes, conservatives can be called “traditional”, “cautious”, “conventional” or “self-controlled”, but descriptions such as “fuddy-duddy”, “bourgeois”, and “fearful” show just how wrong linguists are about modern American conservatives. We’re certainly not “unadventurous”, “uncreative”, “undaring”, and “unimaginative”.
In order to change people’s feelings about conservatives, we need to give the Left a taste of its own medicine. For example, consider what Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently did to highlight the hypocrisy of so-called “sanctuary cities”. Nothing speaks louder than a bunch of white, liberal Karens complaining about having to host a handful of illegal immigrants on Martha’s Vineyard.
Better yet, apply Rule #5 of Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals. Ridicule is a potent weapon and almost impossible to counter when used strategically. It infuriates its victim and causes that person to reveal the vacuousness of his or her beliefs.
Watching the antics of Antifa and other Far Left crazies, I’ve come to believe that none of these lost souls are happy about anything. They have no confidence in their ability to solve problems or meet their most basic needs. They expect society to do that for them through tax-supported government programs. They lack any interest in participating in a merit-based, free market system because, deep down, they know they are losers.
Ways To Ridicule Your Detractors
There are countless ways to ridicule liberals who think they are cool and you’re not. For example, consider these:
“Hi. I see you spend most of your time with the Democrats in this neighborhood. Why would you want to hang around with people who consistently vote to ruin the country?”
“I’ve noticed you’re always offended by things people say – even if they mean no harm. Could it be that your political views prevent you from developing a thicker skin and just enjoy life?”
“I love the look of that new Tesla Model S – so cool. But even if anyone could afford it, I’m troubled knowing Communist China controls virtually all the rare minerals needed to make one of those batteries. Besides, have you seen the pictures of that Tesla blowing up recently? No matter. You’d look cool driving one around town. Since the world will end in a few years anyway, we all should just go for broke and buy one.”
“Hey, we’ve been invited to two parties tonight. At the first one, everyone will be understandably angry about how unfair things are in our country. There’ll be lots of shouting and vulgarity – you know, the way Leftists usually talk. At the other party, everyone will be happy and laughing but that’s only because they’re Republicans – the kind who want you to believe they’re happy to live in America. But, I’ll admit, they’ve invited some girls who are real girls and they’re much prettier. So, what do you say? Would you rather get bummed out or have some fun?”
“I dunno. I’d never vote for a hater like Donald Trump, but I can’t believe the Democrats couldn’t come up with someone better than Old Joe. Imagine a president calling half of the nation a bunch of fascists – or even a “lying dogface pony soldier” – what’s that about? And that really old Speaker of the House, she says she prays for Trump every day, but she still damns him to hell. That makes no sense.”
Other Ways to Assert Your Cool Credentials
But if ridicule doesn’t work for you, say things like “I used to think being a Democrat was way more cool than being a Republican. That was until many of the Democrats I knew began committing suicide or otherwise dying young. I have to admit I’m seriously thinking of getting sober, quit running around on my wife, and I might even vote Republican if it lets me live a long, happy life.”
Or when you return from a trip abroad just say: “I always thought the US was the worst place in the world – you know, it’s racist, sexist, imperialistic, ethnocentric, etc. Then I visited ________ and _________. Boy, do they have us beat! If that’s how socialism works, I’m glad to be home.”
Early Signs That Things Are Changing
What evidence do we have that the pendulum is swinging in favor of conservatives? The ratings for Greg Gutfeld’s late night comedy show now beat all the other late-night comics. He’s yet to dominate that spot the way Johnny Carson did in his day, but the liberal media are worried. [v] When a liberal rag like Vanity Fair spotlights billionaire Peter Thiel’s investments in the “New Right” [vi], we have reason to be optimistic. The Babylon Bee’s satiric coverage of current events continues to be censored as “fake news”, but it’s not going away – and the Left doesn’t like being mocked.
Where can someone go to find other people who believe conservatism is already cool? Try www.thecoolconservative.com or Twitter’s cool.conservatives@CoolConservPAC . Even Face Book now has a page for cool conservatives.
We also need to see more politicians like Tulsi Gabbard come over from the Dark Side. Podcasters like Joe Rogan need to continue giving right-of-center commentators a platform for their views. And conservatives need to stop eating their own. The GOP has more to gain by embracing diversity of thought than trying to mimic the monolithic black hole the DNC has become.
Most of all, conservatives must show their strength and commitment to their ideals. The opponent we face is remarkably unified. Democrats are desperate to stay in power. However, their philosophy depends entirely upon the perpetual weakness of their followers.
In the words of Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde:
“The worst form of tyranny the world has ever known is the tyranny of the weak over the strong.”[vii]
[i] Barbara Ann Kipfer, Editor, American Slang, 4th edition (2008)
[ii] Even the term “conservatism” has evolved since World War II. It acquired its contemporary meaning as a political ideology beginning with Russell Kirk’s The Conservative Mind (1953), although some would say it has its roots in the writings of Edmund Burke (1729-1797). Today, its core meaning adopts caution and gradual change over radicalism and revolution. Conservatives respect traditions especially those values which are at the heart of one’s civilization or nation. Of course, academics are not so kind when defining conservatism. Since they believe liberalism has been the dominant political theory since the Enlightenment, they dismiss conservatism as a right-wing phenomenon that is skeptical of abstract reasoning and only one step short of fascism.
[iii] J. Bosh & E. Swanson, “Most say nation on wrong track, including Dems: AP-NORC poll”, ABC News, June 29, 2022.
[iv] Even though liberals claim to be the “party of science”, they vote according to their feelings. Their positions on most issues are emotionally based. Knowing the facts doesn’t make much of a difference. Even when they are proven to be factually in error, they still repeat the same talking points over and over. For them, it simply feels good to vote Democratic, so it take quite a lot to make them change course.
[v] Ian Ward, “Liberals Should Be Worried About the Conservative Comedy Scene”, Politico, May 13, 2022.
[vi] James Pogue, “Inside the New Right – Where Peter Thiel Is Pacing His Biggest Bets”, Vanity Fair, April 20, 2022.
[vii] Quotes About Tyranny www.azquotes.com
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