Since the inauguration, the progressive movement’s consumptive addiction to autocratic authority has reached grand new heights.  

Their insatiable appetites matter because the more control others have over you, the less control you have over you.

Then there’s that little inconvenient truth that centralized authority is antagonistic to everything honest liberalism represents.

Truly progressive thinkers would do well to re-evaluate loyalty to what has factually become an anti-liberal movement staffed by an unleashed band of closeted control freaks.

There are many lessons on the Democratic Party’s deconstruction – especially on the importance of honesty as a necessary ingredient to sobriety in proximity to power.

The best way for conservatives to counter those seeking to control the universe is not found in obsessing over their transgressions.

Ford does not outsell Chevy in trucks by worrying about Chevy.

Our proper course finds us working to keep our wits and avoid our whimseys while the other guys destroy their wits and indulge their whimseys.

Here’s how.

Civility over passivity and action over anger

Republican leaders are notorious for confusing passive surrender with statesmanship. Think of a daddy politely telling a pedophile he wishes they’d stop molesting his children.

It’s entirely possible to stand up firmly for what’s right and against what’s wrong and retain a grip on one’s dignity, maturity and values.

Then there’s conservative enthusiasm for the silliest non-productive euphemism on the planet – “I’m mad.”

How can any conservative in today’s topsy-turvy world not be angry?

But mad is not a destination. It’s a stimulus to start traveling.

Get angry if you must, but then get over it and get busy.  

Stewing in a TV-dedicated recliner, pounding on the keyboard as a Facebook warrior, or skipping your responsibility to vote, do not count.

Anger without productive action is like gasoline without a car.

Spending our children’s money

Democrats are infamous for promising to spend money they don’t have. Republicans are famous for promising to not spend money they don’t have and doing it anyway.

This is one of the very few public policy areas where Democrats practice honesty. Their platform is crystal clear on their dedication to big government and big budgets.

Contrastingly, the Republican platform speaks actively on government and budgetary constraint. Very few Republican officials walk that talk.

You can’t be a real conservative and not have the courage to say no. That’s especially true with easiest thing any politician can do – spend other people’s money.

That today we’re spending out children’s money makes this an even deeper betrayal meriting enthusiastic challenge.

We have a platform and principles for a reason

Why be a Republican if you are going to ignore the values and stated agenda of Republicanism?

Conversely, why be or vote as a Democrat if that party is against most everything one believes in?

People do both of these things all the time and then wring their hands at the consequences of this lack of disciplined political engagement.

Politicians who run as Republicans should be expected to behave as Republicans and support that movement’s stated principles and platform. When they don’t, they should be respectfully, maturely, and surely challenged.

To do otherwise is to remove clarity and accountability from governance. If we do that, our American Dream will surely fail.

We are on that downhill slide as you read this.

Standing for something will help slow it down. Doing something can reverse it.

Security or liberty?

These two words are like oil and vinegar – you have to shake them up to keep them working together.

Left alone, the heavier demands of liberty will sink to the bottom and fear-based security concerns will rise to the top.

Artificially induced fear – watch or read any mainstream media outlet for evidence – is being used to over-stimulate our fears and numb us to our stolen liberties.

That’s not something conservative thinkers should take lightly.

It’s premature to form a militia group, but it’s not too late to get involved in fighting back through the ballot box, volunteer groups, letters-to-the-editor, support for principle-driven candidates and other patriotic action steps.

When we begin sacrificing liberty for security, we inevitably set-up a sequence that ensures the loss of both.

The operative word in conservative is conserve [v. kuh n-surv] – To use or manage wisely; preserve; save. 

Remember that – do that.

What are we supposed to be about?

If you believe in centralized authority, debt, bureaucracy, giveaways, dependency, conformity, socialistic mediocrity, cancellation culture and rule by the Borg, by all means embrace progressivism.

If you believe in big people over big government, personal accountability, opportunity and prosperity, governance/budgetary constraint, individual liberty, the importance of time-tested wisdom, morality, and rule by law then you’re thinking like a conservative.

America needs you to start acting like one....