Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
I would like to know why so many modern conservatives treat every minor exception to their rigid code of convictions and beliefs as a threat to the nation.
Yes, liberals are getting more inflexible, too, but the very liberal Elizabeth Warren is not calling fellow Democrat Sherrod Brown an enemy of the people because he’s a moderate.
The New York Times recently ran stories that showed Democratic presidential hopeful Amy Klobuchar may have abused staff members.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the California Department of Justice paid out $1.1 million in harassment and retaliation claims from department employees when Democratic hopeful Kamala Harris led that department.
These are “liberal media,” but they ran these stories damaging to Democratic candidates because they are news.
When damaging, credible information comes out about President Donald Trump, right-wing Fox News trots out Hillary Clinton’s emails again.
That’s the difference.
When even fellow conservatives express doubts about, say, blocking background checks for gun ownership, protecting wealth from higher taxes or the practicality of a border wall, the conservative “base” reacts with condemnation.
Even a staunch conservative like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is labeled as a sell-out and traitor to the nation if he even acknowledges that there may be Democrats in the Senate who have a vote and a say.
Why are these conservatives refusing debate, denying humanity to all who disagree and elevating their agenda to war status?
They have allowed Fox News, the Sinclair Broadcasting Group and the exploitable echo chamber of social media to galvanize their prejudices, and magnify their fears and sense of victimhood to the point where they think their rights and opinions are the only ones out there.
It’s obvious to those of us who continue to receive information from traditionally reliable sources that America does not need to be made great again.
America is already great because we accept diversities of race, religion and opinion. It is great because we operate by the world’s soundest foundation for the rule of law.
Everyone, especially the president, should be aware of what the Constitution does and does not say about rights, powers and responsibilities.
The Constitution is a flexible document, not a brittle set of cast-iron commandments, so please do not tell me you are upholding the Constitution when you trample all opinions but your own.
The extreme intolerance of many modern conservatives is making America ripe for the threat of a dictator who promises to take vengeance on their behalf but advances his or her own interests, often at their expense.
The most intolerant conservatives are not the majority, but they are convinced they speak for all people.
My advice to them, especially if they see inconceivable (to them) but likely defeat in 2020, is to take a deep breath and a good look around.
They can start now to vary their media diet to discover the good ideas out there from a variety of viewpoints.
Thoughtful, informed conservatives are valuable.
Reactionaries are dangerous to their own freedom and ours.
Steve Hansen writes about our life and times from his perspective of a semi-retired Tucumcari journalist. Contact him at: