How I Became A Conservative by Al Garner - HTML preview

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Introduction

 

I grew up in the conservative 50s in one of the most conservative areas (Orange County, Calif.) and went to college where it was said that as we got older, we would get more conservative.   (Prophetic)  After four years of studying the ideal world, I was graduated and moved to the real world of the slums of the very liberal New York City.  I daily read the liberal NEW YORK TIMES, and went from one bad job to another in liberal social work (in the liberal late 60s).  I thought the problem was me, but noticed no one was getting anything done.

 

I dabbled in teaching and politics, more social work, and then land lording, which allowed me to write.  I happened on books by Milton Friedman and others, which explained conservative ideas. Slowly the light came on.  It had taken years.  Why hadn’t this been covered in college?  Because most colleges are liberal.

 

Liberals who’ve anointed themselves Robin Hood and Santa Claus have led us astray.  They are bright and more educated than the masses, but mistaken about fundamentals.  Moderates and conservatives (not the far right) are more realistic and realize the importance of traditional values.   Yet they are always tarred for not ‘caring’ enough, while paying farmers not to grow and welfare mothers not to work.  This book shows their wisdom by drawing on the ideas of:  Ronald Reagan, Milton Friedman, Edward Banfield, Jack Kemp, William F. Buckley, and Thomas Sowell.

 

Definitions

 

- ‘Liberal’ is portrayed (by the predominantly liberal media) as ‘progressive, modern, open-minded, compassionate, enlightened, egalitarian, tolerant, and generous.’

 

- ‘Conservative’ is portrayed as ‘backward, stingy, mean, rigid, heartless, selfish, narrow, angry, and fearful.’

 

From my experience, the liberal view is:  an ideal world is possible, old is bad, new is good.  Anti-establishment, anti-capitalism, security, socialism, pro-union, and redistribute the wealth to level the classes.   The conservative view is the opposite.

 

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(More on the liberal outlook in chapter 4, section ‘a,’ 1st essay -  ‘Liberal Myths,’and in the Appendix.)