The problem

Living in the epicenter of liberal conformity as a conservative is a bit like navigating 1930s’ Germany as a Jew.

Instead of the brown-shirted thugs in beerhalls conspiring our demise, we have anti-brewery Antifa vandals in West Asheville bookstores.    

Asheville’s progressively controlled education system is similarly hell-bent on purging the right-minded. If you doubt it, check out UNCA. Like Bavaria of old, the irony of a liberal arts university tolerating only one brand of thinking is lost in their zeal for ideological purity.

My favorite measurement of totalitarian leanings is the 7-0 liberal super-majority lock on our governing body. Even the remote possibility of district elections adding a conservative thinker has generated apoplexy. An endless 7-0 Asheville City Council, where diversity is limited to revolving liberals attempting to outdo one another’s extremism – not a peep?

The conservative minority is working to undo the left’s lock. Our plan is to disrupt Asheville’s tattoo parlors, head shops and retro used clothing stores. Minus these cherished resources, it’s our hope the grass-fed liberal hordes will move or perish. 

Relentlessly faced with the left’s wearisome habituation to extremism over realism, we appreciate that some independent spirits are reconsidering. For those thus conflicted here’s a few solid reasons to take a look at Plan B. 

Discernment versus judgment

Conservatives get that humans are prone to judgment.  

Though the left likes to pretend a lack of bias, watch their reactions to independent thinkers, Christians or those sporting a MAGA hat. 

Conservatives take a different approach. Our core values are attached to nature. The constant pressure of her demand for personal responsibility keeps us humble.

We work to separate discernment from judgment. The former requires objective assessment of what works and doesn’t without condemnation. The latter is reactive, usually thoughtless and filled with censure.  Witness the Academy Awards progressive extravaganza for evidence of where the left hangs out.

Well-behaved men don’t make history either

Our current president’s predecessor prided himself in shining imagery and oratory. He spent eight years polishing those credentials. 

Conservatives understand those are not the skill sets necessary to draining a swamp. 

Donald Trump struggles to get a C-minus on imagery. His successes and commitment to courageously lead versus safely dogpaddle merit an A-plus.

Conservatives aren’t sexist. We understand that neither well-behaved women nor men make history – and that swamps are muddy places less vulnerable to charm than conviction. 

 Our leap of faith is not toward man

Not all conservatives are Christians, but most are. 

We’ve made a conscious choice to embrace the time-tested values of the spiritual faith that arguably made our world. 

Why? Because we don’t see anything coming out of the hands of man that works better. 

That doesn’t mean we live in detachment. We just find it works better to face life with a loving value system telling us how best to deal with human imperfections.  

We’re patient with the left finding comfort in the erudite clarity of the “Big Bang Theory.”

We like simple math

Conservatives appreciate America’s traditional success equation. 

There’s simplicity and realism in that simple formula – Liberty + Opportunity + Responsibility = Prosperity.

Every other political movement in America likes to pretend you can leave out ingredients and produce the same outcome.

For that reason, if no other, you should be a conservative.

We love the 2nd Amendment

Antagonists love to pontificate about militias, hunting privileges, gun violence and Constitutional “flexibility.” Conservatives read history and understand the 2nd Amendment is about something infinitely more important – the right to and means of self-protection.

We like the fact America has 10 times more armed citizens that China has soldiers. We like that governing control freaks are more afraid of us than we are of them. We like the fact that lawful citizens can purchase modern firearms as a counter to similarly armed bad-guys. We like that women – with their acknowledged physical limitations – can carry a small equalizer against those who would exploit that vulnerability.

The left – per word and deed – wants to disarm us for their comfort at the expense of our safety. Read about gun-control ground-zero – Chicago – for clarity of how well that works. 

Fond of Mother Nature 

The left is constantly trying to find a way around nature’s truths. Their political seduction mantra thus tracks to a central theme – the promise of something for nothing. 

In contrast, nature persistently tells us nothing is free. We have to earn it all.

Conservatives get the reality that life is an uphill climb versus a downhill stroll. It’s a more demanding view, but nature rewards those who embrace her truths just as surely as she gets around to punishing those who don’t.

Conservatives don’t try to fool Mother Nature. 

Gender swapping isn’t easy

Going back to that discernment versus judgment thing, conservatives get that gender exchange isn’t a seamless walk to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Working against Mother Nature’s clear preference for two genders is a tough undertaking.

Should people be free to make that choice – sure. Should they be able to recruit the young and naive; shut-down social discourse on alternative thinking; or otherwise conceal the hardships associated with their convictions – no.

It’s not about hate – it’s about a resistance to pretense.

It’s not about color either

Though the left likes to toss the “racism” card about like fall leaves blowing in the wind, conservatives get the deeper truths of our current divide.

What’s pulling us apart is not color – it’s the choices, character and cultural convictions that some of us are making.

Any man who judges a person by something they can’t control – like color – is a fool. Any man who fails to discern the importance of good choices, character and cultural convictions falls into the same pit. 

Conservatives believe the left abuses minorities – and if you don’t believe that, check out the murder rates, public housing miseries, abortion statistics and economic realities that have descended on their watch.

Normal Isn’t extremism

Beats the heck out of me how the left and their media marketing agents constantly manage to call conservatives extremists. For clarification, ask yourself which value system “The Greatest Generation” embraced – and then ponder which side is on the right side of reason.

While the Democratic Party of this not-so-great generation doubles down on open borders, men in women’s bathrooms, abortion, 2nd Amendment antagonism, anti-Christian and anti-police sentiments, conservatives are on the road less traveled.  

We like the time-tested values that have made America a beacon of hope to the world. Yes Myrtle, that means conservatives still believe in the word “normal.”

We don’t treat ourselves too seriously 

As you’ll note from the up top quote, conservatives are more into humor than hate. Most of us prefer to quietly go about our business and leave other people to theirs. We don’t need to be masters of the universe. We believe we can disagree with people without needing to cut their heads off. 

Conservatives don’t get compelling urges to do stuff like rip-up historical monuments; embrace the “F” word as an enlightened form of social commentary; or knit and sport pink vagina hats as we throw people out of restaurants because we don’t like their hats.  

Conservatives also appreciate civil debate. We find it intriguing that Asheville’s progressives avoid those opportunities like the plague – except when everyone else at the table is a progressive. 

Speaking of which, being students of humanity as well as nature, we conservatives have watched Asheville’s conformity parade and note how many progressives can’t find their happy place without a glass or a bowl. Excuse us if we don’t duplicate a model of social intercourse that doesn’t work without lubrication.

On a final note, may I share we’re very fond of “Alice in Wonderland?” As conservatives in Asheville, we realize that to keep our head – we have to keep a sense of humor.…

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 Carl Mumpower, a psychologist and former elected official, is chairman of the Buncombe County Republican Party. He can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .