America is suffering a critical shortage of free thinkers.
Don’t add to the problem.
If you generally resonate with more traditional right-wing conservative roots, please resist the urge to loiter here in the familiar. Do yourself a favor, and take a walk on the wild side.
Click over and explore some of the illuminating liberal libations. You won’t grow much by steeping yourself in self-affirming commentary.
If you are still working out your own political philosophy, there is a ton of information in this post. Beware of getting bogged down in the vast array of apparent contradictions.
If you dare brave the catacombs of conservatism, please proceed with an open mind. Fresh and contemporary commentary will be provided free of charge.
As with the left-spectrum post, rather than pontificate my own perspective, I will offer a variety of links to thought provoking articles and resources.
It’s up to you to identify the pros and cons of conservatism.
It goes without saying that you could simply Google “conservative principles” or “why conservatives are crazy” or whatever. The problem is, it’s exceedingly difficult to discern right from wrong, fact from fiction, truth from utter BS.
Wisdom says be skeptical of your sources. It is essential to scour every source for slant and bias. What’s their angle? How do they skew the information being presented?
Of course, academic types love to point out that we all have an unconscious, implicit bias. It appears that we are helplessly ensnared in our own humanity, destined to be judgmental and prejudice, bitterly clinging to self-serving perspectives. So be it.
Still, in the face of human fallibility, there are many great thinkers in the world. Some helped to establish the precedents of logic and the pillars of rational thinking. Others continue to explore the enigmatic nuance of existential experience.
The point is, clear thinking deserves healthy respect, regardless of political affiliation. Contemplating perspectives that offend our own requires a good measure of mental discipline. To do so is an enriching exercise that is certain to cultivate wisdom.
With that in mind, let’s move to the links.
Like liberalism, conservatism has a lot of history. The definition has undoubtedly shifted through the years, making it difficult to digest the full scope of right-spectrum politics.
As we wade into the right-wing waters, it is critical to be aware of the current cultural conditioning that that presupposes conservative thinking is backwards and unintelligent. From Google’s skewed search results, to social media’s liberal bias, it is difficult to find a fair shake.
Do you have a college degree? Are you aware of rampant bias on campuses across the country? Here are a few articles to explore:
- How empirical studies have shown anti-conservative bias is real.
- How liberal bias is hurting research.
- How liberalism is ruining academia.
- Why most college professor are liberal.
Here we want to shed such assumptions. To try and get a flavor for the historical context and core principles of modern conservatism, you might consider these reasonable commentaries:
- On conservatism from a more right-leaning perspective.
- On conservatism from a more left-leaning perspective.
Since social change seems to be accelerating all around us, you might also consider a more central perspective on conservatism in the Age of Trump.
If you want to truly immerse yourself in conservative ideology, you could dig into the right-wing propaganda of some prominent right-spectrum think-tanks, such as:
Word of caution: NEVER trust the words “non-partisan.” That’s code lingo for “Come on in sucker.” You’re about to be duped.
Hopefully you’ve taken the time to get familiar with the intellectual pillars of right-spectrum politics. You’ll be a more well-rounded person because of it. Don’t forget. Balance is the key to happiness.
If all the right-wing theory is driving you nuts, don’t worry. Breathe deep. Keep your eyes on the prize.
Remember, we are trying to grasp an understanding of right-spectrum politics, and why it is that millions of people advocate a conservative perspective. Right, wrong, or indifferent, there must be reasons.
Now it’s time to peruse some pithy conservative commentary on current political events. To put your finger on the pulse of current conservative chatter, check out some of these right-wing repositories:
You might also check out quasi-legitimate right-leaning news sights like Fox News, OAN, or try a popular aggregate site like Zero Hedge.
Please keep in mind, when media outlets (left or right) claim to be “news” they are lying through their teeth. Generally speaking, it’s pure propaganda. You check their slant at Media Bias Ratings.
Please proceed with caution, and all the critical thinking skills you can muster.
When attempting to evaluate articles from any source, it is important to understand the terminology that is being used. You might try and wrap your head around the scope of conflicting definitions by poking around on these sites:
- The RedBlue Dictionary – This is a nice source, which along with AllSides.com, is about as central as they come.
- For right-spectrum interpretations of common terminology, you can check out sources here and here.
- For liberal definitions of their own terminology, you might check out the Liberal Activist Toolkit, or the ever-thorough Encyclopedia of Marxism.
Oh yeah, here’s a bonus read on why Bush wasn’t a conservative, and Obama wasn’t a liberal. They’re both part of the good old boys club.
Obviously this could go on and on and on.
If you want to help shift the political paradigm, you’ve got to be equipped for intelligent debate. That means understanding where your political opponents are coming from.
If you are left-leaning, and you actually dug into the resources provided, I applaud you. I commend you. I thank you.
If you are right-leaning and you still feel all warm and fuzzy, dig a little deeper. If you haven’t already, now is the perfect time to immerse yourself in the curious world of left-spectrum politics.
Go ahead. Be brave. Question everything.
Never stop learning.
