(Page 4 of 4)
In truth, both Conservatives and Liberals launch rude fireballs at each other -- just as Mr. Roush states. I would differ from Mr. Roush in that I find acidic comments coming from both respective mainstreams and not just from the fringes. I would also confess that many letters from my fellow Conservatives which appear in TAS do make my baby-soft skin blush. Sometimes, when I read these letters on my plantation, all I can do is shout out "mercy" and call for my man, Bob, to bring me two aspirin and something cool to drink. Between Conservatives and Liberals, however, there is a small but significant difference. Conservatives write that way because they genuinely don't like you. Liberals write that way because they think themselves the very embodiment of reason, decency, sweetness and light.
I am glad Mr. Roush thinks he has friends and acquainted ones who are Conservatives. I am even happier that "...We break bread together, we work in the community together and we discuss important issues in as civil manner." Yet, to tell you the truth, I'd be more interested in what these friends have to say about the matter. Unfortunately, Mr. Roush's testimony has that "some-of-my-best-friends-are-black" type flavor to it. It would just be nice to hear his friends' side of the story.
As far as the canard of Conservatives' belief in a vast conspiracy against them, I doubt very much Liberals all get together and hold meetings to plan battle tactics. I hardly think any Conservative does. Instead, I suggest Liberal discrimination and anger against Conservatives are attitudinal in origin. Not being a Conservative nor living as one, I am not surprised Mr. Roush thinks these stories of Liberal rejection and outrage are vastly overblown if not totally imaginary. Indeed, Liberals I know and have known rarely think they are discriminating against Conservatives. They scarcely give it a thought. Instead, they tend to believe Conservatives do not fit the "job specs" for this or that for one reason or another -- "they just are not a good fit." At the academic level, some Liberals (particularly in the social sciences but not exclusively so) will venture that Conservatives can't get past their ideology and do serious work in their field. "Wouldn't they be happier doing something else?" Rationalizations, yes. That's just the point; Liberals think they have common sense reasons for what they do. Of course, that's to the extent any thought is devoted to the matter. Most of the time, it is simply "assume, skip over it and move on to the next subject."
I don't expect a Liberal to see these things. But, as I did, if
you pass from being a Liberal to being a Conservative, woe will be
unto you. Outrage? I can't tell you how many times I've been on the
receiving end on that one from those who believe they are only
doing what any rational and decent person would do. As bad as that
is, it is better than not getting a chance to speak your piece at
all. You know, we Conservatives are so divisive.
-- Mike Dooley
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Re: Peter Ferrara's The
Economic Recovery Plan:
I want to add my commendation to Mr. Ferrara for his outstanding
Sept. 24 "The Economic Recovery Plan." I am a portfolio manager at
a very large international asset management firm, and am fielding
numerous calls and emails from my clients concerned about the
turmoil in the financial markets. When asked by clients the
underlying cause of the problems I refer them to Mr. Ferrara's
article in Spectator.org; I haven't seen a more concise and
effective interpretation in all my hundreds of readings on the
subject.
-- Paul M. DeSisto, CFA
Cedar Grove, New Jersey
Great work by Mr. Ferrara on the explanation for the problem. One
wonders where Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi have been the past two
years while this went down. And Obama doesn't have to go to
Washington since these same cronies have already assured him that
they will not honor any McCain suggestion (at the expense of the
American people). And where is Justice on this? They were quick to
indict Scooter Libby over a relatively trivial detail
forgotten.
-- Robert Mandraccia, MD
Fort Myers, Florida