conservative angst

no person can get all the questions right on a life quiz except jesus, and even he would be subjected to modern day interpretation and misrepresentation by the examiner. neverthless, the extreme counter-cultural conservatives often believe they have found the answers. i think they are misguided.

the egomaniacal candidate for governor of new york, eliot spitzer, has said that new york (and by implication the nation i presume) needs "open access to emergency contraception." really. doesn't he realize that open access to emergency contraception could simply be prevented by the closing of two legs? because of plotting lawyers and perverted politicians like mr. spitzer, counter-cultural conservatives espouse resistence to the "tides of modernity." after all, they contend, who needs more immorality championed as freedom? they are proponents of a switch in lifestyle which rejects the politics of lust and greed, consumerism, selfishness, liberalism, crassness of the culture, poor quality education, environmental abuse, big business and religious secularism. they believe that americans should choose virtue over freedom. i disagree. freedom and virtue are not an either/or, nor are they mutually exclusive. well-intended though some of these god-conscious, conservative reformers might be, they usually cannot resist going to extremes. i dislike unrealistic extremes. today, humanity enjoys its highest level of civilization in history. people naturally do not aspire to simplify, to live spiritually apart, to "go back to the good 'ole days." come on, living in close proximity to your neighbors in anti-sprawl environs, usually sucks. come on, how many parents can successfully home school? come on, one program on televison or one movie might be worthwhile. come on, is not a nice car or house a statement of psyche? come on, who wants to return to work on the farm? come on, how many believers want to overindulge in religious services? come on, how many americans want to completely reject modern inventions, conveniences and entertainments?

counter-cultural conservatives do. yet their virtuous beliefs triumphing over unchecked freedoms often represent a peculiar, radical individualism and materialism that often results in economic and philosophical contradictions. for example, when a proponent of anti-consumerism chooses organic gardening or organic products, it makes him more of a consumer not less and more of a free market capitalist not less, than his 'lessers'. opposing the shopper who selects aldi supermarket's inexpensive produce, the virtuous, environmentally conscientious conservative not only chooses to pay more for his food (which therefore saves him less), but also cons himself into believing that he is morally superior. ultimately, the organic concept itself is what he lusts after and what drives his greed for a more virtuous life.

if intelligence marks the progress of man, how can the counter-cultural conservative reject common sense and practicality which could serve him well? modern american culture might be debased, but it is still about choices that need not debase individuals. better than the choice to regress and reject, would be the choice to advance and embrace what is virtuous and right inspite of modern, external, societal pressures. a routine trip to church could help too. a routine trip to town to shop should be accompanied by a silent partner, self-control. i don't see flight from reality as a hopeful solution to conservative angst. i would rather see a flight to virtuous choices, where freedom and virtue are inextricably linked.