Friday, January 15, 2010

I might have found a political home...maybe


Like many Americans I am experiencing a bit of an identity crisis. The direction and policies of the Democrats and Republicans have forced us into a wilderness of disenfranchised despair. The only thing that I can say without equivocation or hesitation is that the leadership in both parties are a bunch dipsticks. They both treat government like a giant feed trough that can be used for enriching their bank accounts, buying off key constituents, and keeping themselves employed.

This despair almost turned into complete apathy until I read Crunchy Cons by Rod Dreher. The book was a revelation and helped me understand that I am not alone. There are legions of fairly conservative people like me who are equally dismayed at the greed, superficiality, lack of direction, and pettiness of those Republican officials who squandered the last decade and lost Congress. According to the book there is a rapidly growing sub culture within the conservative movement that is quite different from the established base. Hopefully this movement will grow to the point where it can help in shaping the direction of the party.

So what is a Crunchy Con? And how is it different from your typical White, Dockers wearing, suburbanite McMansion Republican? Here are a few key differentiators.

  1. A Crunchy Con cares about the environment but isn't a nut about it. We are the stewards of the earth and we have the responsibility to ensure its enjoyment for future generations. The earth is full of many resources for our benefit but not exploitation.
  2. Crunchy Cons have faith but typically aren't your standard "Christian Right" variety. Read the book for a better description.
  3. A Crunchy Con is productive and likes the good things in life but isn't as driven by money and accumulation of things, one of the traditional attributes that detractors use when describe the typical Republican. He would prefer a cottage in the city over a large house in cookie cutter suburban neighborhood because he values diversity and authenticity.
  4. The Crunchy Con has culture and, while they love the American experiment, they see the value and beauty of the rest of the world. They value authenticity and originality over the local mall.
  5. The Crunchy Con is a capitalist but he things Gordon Gekko is a bum. The free market is good but not perfect. Markets do need some regulation and oversight to keep the greediest lot from raping the rest of the population.

After reading the book I would say that my political views share a lot of similarities with your standard Crunchy Con. If I had to assign a U.S. figure as a standard bearer for this movement it would have to be Teddy Roosevelt. He was a good Republican figure who was also progressive on the right things.

So my apathy towards Politicians, Republicans in particular, has been slightly assuaged. I take heart in knowing that there are legions like me who see the ugliness of the state of the current party and politics in general. There are groups, like the Crunchy Cons, that I can associate with in my effort to push for positive change in our politics.

Thursday, January 07, 2010

If I were Sunday School President...




In this era of ADD and sensory overload there are very few things that can still manage to capture the attention of the "average Joe". The obvious exception is the top 10 list. We can come up a list, anything from best movies to most boring speeches from the 67th session of Congress, and we will be assured that it will draw the attention, ire and admiration of this attention deficient audience. The list is the equivalent of the hamburger; cheap, easy, and an object in which everyone has an opinion. And since we are all about conveniently summarizing things, such as our years, we are subject to myriad lists each December and January.

To keep with this theme I've decided to generate a 10 ten list of potential LDS Sunday School lessons. Our ward recently changed times and I rue prospect of dealing with the afternoon slot. I'm considering a move to the neighboring Lutheran congregation unless someone offers to teach one of these classes.


Top 10 Lessons not found in an LDS approved manual

  1. Cain, the White Horse prophesy, obscure comments from Brigham Young, and the truth behind Mormon urban legends.
  2. 101 Ways to replicate the Cafe Rio menu for your next ward gathering.
  3. Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, and the need for improved institutional oversight.
  4. How to successfully prepare a lesson with less then three references to your mission.
  5. Mormon Profiteering: 10 easy steps to side step trademark laws in coming up with merchandising ideas for Deseret Book.
  6. Culture Shock: A deeper look into life in Utah County and the oddities of Mormon culture.
  7. Awake!: How to confound a Jehovah's Witness in 4 verses or less.
  8. Neighborly Relations: How to peacefully confront and diffuse the awkward conversation from the family in the ward who is pushing Quixtar.
  9. Real Estate opportunities in Jackson County, Missouri.
  10. Gerald Lund, his writings, and a case for canonizing the "Work and the Glory" series.

Did I miss anything?

Dude