Kindergarten Principle #2 — Change, Just For the Sake of Change

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When I started preparing to launch this series on The Kindergarten Principles, I wrestled with the title for quite some time.

The “kindergarten” part seemed obvious to me. We need to but look around us and observe the childish, often inexplicable, sometimes absurd behavior of people who, by all appearances, appear to be adults.  The characteristics are all there: they’re the right size, they’re too old to still be in grade school, they hold jobs, drive cars, manage households, have barbecues, some even travel the world — but amazingly, a stunning percentage of the American population suffer from AKS : Adult Kindergarten Syndrome.  The symptoms are easily spotted — when speaking about political matters with an adult who has AKS, a kindergarten-like behavior takes over and dictates their thoughts and words.  Arguments come out of left field — or the twilight zone.  (Example: “You know, I have to disagree with Obama’s fiscal policies” — Liberal response: “Stop the hate speech, you freaking racist.”)

But back to our series title, The Kindergarten Principles.  The word “principles” gave me pause.  “Principles” seems a bit too, well… decisive.  The word “notions” seems somehow more fitting when it comes to defining the thought processes that cause liberals to say what they say and do what they do.  But more on that in a moment.

I finally settled on The Kindergarten Principles, as opposed to The Kindergarten Notions, because liberals actually do feel strongly about their political philosophy.  They deserve to be given credit for believing what they do as intensely as they do.  And since genuine conservatives cling to a set of rock-solid, well-defined principles (“from my cold, dead hands” I would characterize it), liberals must be extended the courtesy of the benefit of any doubt — for the purpose of these discussions, at least.

Also, “The Kindergarten Notions” sounds really stupid for a title.

Now, what do liberals actually stand for? Liberals stand for only one thing, and it can be embodied in one vast, sweeping concept — change for the sake of change.  Hence the preferred and self-chosen descriptor, progressive.  The very essence of being a progressive is to stand against anything that represents standing for anything.  The passing of time establishes certain principles.  Liberalism is, at its essense, anti-establishment.

If a specific course of action has successfully led to a desired destination, get off that path.  If something has worked for centuries, it’s outdated — replace it.  If human nature dictates a universal truth, deny human nature.  If every culture that has ever existed has set up a particular traditional institution, redefine it.  If the entire record of human civilization has confirmed and established a truth, reject it in the name of progress.

And politically — if a set of principles has been implemented, and has succeeded in producing the most prosperous, the most free, the most successful, the most charitable, the most envied nation this earth has ever seen, all in 233 short years — change those principles.  Throw out what works and try something new.

Understand the nature of this premise and you will begin to understand the counter-productive nature of liberalism:  Change for the sake of change is nothing but an experiment.  You’ll also begin to grasp some of the inherent problems with President Obama’s message of hope and change.

“But the very founding of America was a huge experiment,” a liberal will argue.  On that point, a conservative wouldn’t disagree.  The difference is, at the time of this nation’s founding, there was no precedent to consider.  Nothing to point to and say, “This is our example; this is how it will work.”  Today, we can look back and say, “These are the principles that have made us what we are; this is what has worked.”

Without batting an eye, a liberal will tell you we have to change it.  But why change what works, you ask?  Well, just because.  The times, they are a-changin’.  This is the 21st century, not the dark ages.  You know, the progress of mankind and all that (oh gosh, we ‘re supposed to say humankind now…hooray for progress!)  Anyways, quit asking me why, we just have to do things another way, that’s all.

Well, what does this have to do with The Kindergarten Principles?  Am I implying that kindergarteners are all about change?  Am I suggesting that pre-schoolers ignore the past when they consider doing something?  I’m not implying that — I’m saying it plainly.  5-year-olds are notoriously impetuous, impulsive, forever trying new things in the process of growing and learning.  That includes ignoring the lessons of yesterday — things that worked, things that didn’t.  Try something new — that simple phrase encapsulates the whole essence of a kindergartener’s world.

In the adult political world, “try something new” loosely translates to “change just for the sake of change.”

Liberals call it being flexible, open-minded, free-thinking, progressive.  In practical terms, it’s the casting aside of that which is tried and true in favor of that which is unproven.  Do it differently just for the sake of doing it differently.  Set no boundaries, follow no rules.  Take action without giving creedence to human instincts, natural urges and tendencies.  Ignore precedent.  Every situation that arises can be dealt with independently, starting from scratch, without the natural constraints of common sense, history and tradition.  If a policy has worked in the past, we really should scrap it and try something new.  If a policy failed before, surely it will work this time — we just have to do it differently.

Kindergarten Principle #2 — Change Just for the Sake of Change.  Don’t worry about what’s happened in the past — do things differently.  Try something new, just because.

And then let’s all stand back and see how the experiment turns out.

 

(Be sure to read the whole series, beginning with The Kindergarten Principles – Introduction)

Coming Soon: Kindergarten Principle #3

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Kindergarten Principle #1 — Johnny, share your crayons, NOW

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To be liberal is to be giving, generous and compassionate.  At least that’s the generally accepted understanding of the word.  To be a liberal is, well…not necessarily the same thing.  How is it that liberals are far less “liberal” in their charitable giving than the average conservative?1

Oh, liberals preach compassion and generosity, all right — but they’re usually talking about the giving of other people’s money (as in higher taxes and more social programs via big government).  Often when liberals see a need, they quickly respond by covering their own assets and compelling others to give from theirs. 

They are abundantly generous, caring, over-flowing with sympathy in their own minds, but when it comes to actual giving, they tend to be Scrooges (“Are there no prisons?  And the Union workhouses — are they still in operation?”   Read:  “Are there no welfare programs?  And the government assistance programs — are they still in operation?”)

What a profound paradox — miserly generosity.  Or perhaps, liberal stinginess.  Confiscate wealth from those who earned it, and distribute to those who haven’t.

Generosity by proxy, if you will.

In the recent election, Obama (like all Democrats before him) played the age-old class envy card perfectly, promising to the middle class and the poor that we’ll get even with those nasty, greedy rich people by making them pay their “fair share” (which translates to: tax the evil money-makers heavily, unemployment will soar, and the poor will be poorer than ever.  Result:  lots more people reaching for handouts, lots more “need” for bailouts, programs and assistance and — hooray! — more excuses for government to suck money from its only source of revenue, the evil money-makers — you and me.)

With the passing of the so-called ’stimulus’ bill, we now see the concept being put into full-blown practice — the producers (workers, taxpayers, employers)  being asked (compelled, obligated, forced) to foot the bill for the unfortunate ones (CEO’s who have mismanaged their company’s financial matters, homeowners who bit off more than they could possibly chew.)

Liberals are demanding that the producers bail out the failures. 

Never before in our nation’s history have we seen such a blatant display of liberal Democrat economic philosophy.  This recession has become their golden opportunity.  As Rahm Emanuel put it, we can’t let this economic crisis go to waste. 

What’s the origin of this twisted mindset?  I think by now we all know it reflects the essence of socialism.  But where in the world did so many Americans learn to participate in this practice — this idea of forced sharing — and why are they going along with it?

I suggest they learned it in kindergarten.  Most of the principles under which liberals operate are variations of the simple lessons taught in pre-schools everywhere.  In a nutshell, liberals view the world as a great big kindergarten. 

Try this: begin viewing political events, speeches, press conferences and news reports within the framework of that premise.  You’ll notice that nearly without exception liberals apply simple kindergarten principles to grown-up situations.  Foreign policy, elections, national defense, the economy, the complex interactions of nations and ideologies — you name it, liberals approach every issue with the midset of good little kindergarteners: sharing, caring, playing well with others, respecting everyone’s feelings and, oh yes — whining about name-calling and bullies and how this and that just isn’t fair.

As a practical matter, most of these precious pre-school lessons don’t readily apply to the real world, if your intention is to actually be a grown-up.  And political correctness, after all, is really just the way to remain in kindergarten your whole adult life.

Now to the topic at hand — the basic kindergarten concept of sharing: “Johnny, you have lots of crayons.  Suzie only has a few.  Why don’t you share your crayons with her?”

Seems reasonable.  We don’t want our children to be selfish and possessive.  And sure, Johnny can share his crayons if he wants to.  But maybe he doesn’t want to.  Maybe his mother told him not to pass them around.  Maybe they’re special crayons, given to him by his favorite grandma.  Whatever the reason, he doesn’t really have to share them.  But does he know that?  He weighs his options, to the extent that a 5-year-old is able to weigh options.  If he says “No, they’re my crayons,” why, he’s selfish, he’s mean, he’s not a good classmate, he’s embarrassed in front of the class (surely not by his teacher…?)

He’s not being — dare I say it? — liberal with his crayons. 

On the other hand, if he wants to avoid all that and shares his crayons with a reluctant “okay,” then voila! — an invaluable early lesson in forced compliance.  The valid option of “they’re my crayons, I don’t want to share them” is removed from the equation.

Essentially, some of Johnny’s crayons have been confiscated and given to Suzie.

An exaggeration?  Maybe a little.  Of course, this isn’t about crayons.  It’s about the principle of forced giving.  What does Johnny learn in kindergarten about “having to share” and what will he be made to share when he’s an adult?

Kindergarten Principle #1 — Forced Sharing. What you own is not really yours. Someone bigger than you has the right to make you give it up against your will.

Learn it well, boys and girls.  That way when you grow up, you won’t put up a fuss when your government makes you hand over your hard-earned money. 

You might even join the chorus of grown-up kindergarteners who cry, “Hey, he has more money than me!  Get it from him, Uncle Sam!”

 

1 See “Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism – Who Gives, Who Doesn’t, and Why It Matters” by Arthur C. Brooks

(Be sure to read the whole series, beginning with The Kindergarten Principles – Introduction)

Coming Soon: Kindergarten Principle #2 — Change, Just for the Sake of Change

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Introduction to ‘The Kindergarten Principles’

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I have an original theory to explore.  If you stick with me for a while, (as I publish this series in which I’ll present evidence backing up my theory), you may gain some insight as to why some of today’s politicians act the way they act, and say the things they say.  Even if you disagree with my take, read on anyway — you might find it amusing.

My theory had its beginning during the 2008 Democrat Primary, while the candidates were vying for the Democrat nomination for President of the United States.  It suddenly occurred to me that Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, John Edwards and the rest were sort of play-acting, somehow just going through the motions. Trading lines as if on stage, playing the roles of candidates.

It seemed like they were playing pretend politics.

They were the stars of ‘Let’s Have a Primary Campaign!’  Later, it was ‘Let’s Do an Election!’ and then ‘Let’s Have an Inauguration Party!’   I know America goes through the process of electing a president every 4 years — nothing new there — but it seemed to me that the Democrats were playing pretend politics in front of their favorite audience, the American people.

The concept of ‘playing politics’ is not new.  It’s decades old, if not centuries.  But my theory expands the concept.  What I see in today’s America is a Democrat Party with members that not only play politics — they play politics like they are play-acting in kindergarten class.

I began to test my theory by expanding my observations to the day-by-day U.S. political scene, focusing on the behavior of Democrats already in office.  Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Chuck Shumer, Barbara Boxer, Diane Feinstein, Ted Kennedy, Dick Durbin – the more visible and vocal of the Democrats we see regularly.  Sure enough, my overwhelming impression was that they were acting out the roles of government officials.  Senators, Congressmen, House Committee Chairmen, Speakers-of-the-House — all fun parts to act out, with lines and props and cameras and costumes and — okay, maybe not costumes.

The more I observe the activities and antics of the Democrats, the more my theory is confirmed.

Part of my theory is that this is not by accident.  I think liberals have recently discovered, or maybe crafted this method as an innovative, effective way of manipulating the 21st century American public.  Not with persuasive arguments.  Not with compelling, informative debate.  Not with logic, reason or genuine intellectual discussion.

No — liberals have figured out that the trick to dealing with the masses is to act as if the world is a great big kindergarten.

Consider:
- Democrats speak over our heads, as if we’re children.
- They pontificate with big words, great flourishes and ponderous concepts — figuring that we just don’t understand anyways.
- They deal with national and world issues by applying simple kindergarten principles (more on this as the series continues.)
- They often expect us to believe the unbelievable (example: the stimulus plan will stimulate the economy.)
- They pretentiously tell us how much our ideas matter, and then figuratively (or is it literally?) scoff at us behind closed doors.
- They hold back achievers and praise poor achievment.
- They teach that the group is more important than the individual.
- They preach that conformity and “getting along” is better than creativity and initiative.

The new liberal playbook — kindergarten principles.

A simple but highly effective way of dealing with the population at large — in fact, a brilliant political strategy.  But why would the average American fall for this arrogant, patronizing treatment?  Why would he allow himself to become a willing prey for such shameless, condescending political tactics?

I think it’s an unintended consequence of our technological progress.  21st century America is a nation where we don’t have to wait for anything.  New and exciting innovations continue to make things easier, more accessible, more convenient.  Everything is instant — movies, music, food, news, internet, communication, GPS.  We want everything, we want it right now — and there’s very little left that we can’t have in a matter of seconds.  We’ve constructed an entire culture of superficiality and instant gratification.  As a result, Americans now have the attention span of kindergarteners.  We can’t focus on anything for more than a few minutes at a time.

And in the process, we’ve made ourselves vulnerable to — and virtually defenseless against — the power of suggestion.

Call it cultural ADD.  We’ve become a people who get their information in quick little snippets.  Everything is fed to us in clever sound bytes or quick 8-minute segments between commercials.  In one ear — yeah, yeah, blah, blah, blah – out the other and move on.  More important things to do anyways — American Idol is on, isn’t it?  Don’t bother me with trivial stuff like a presidential election… What’s that?  Obama is like a rock star?  Yeah, baby, count me in!  O-ba-ma!  O-ba-ma!  O-ba-ma!  Politics is totally coooooool…!

Liberals have cleverly figured out that the path to political success (at least in the short term) is to tap the vast ocean of emotional shallowness.  They’ve learned to exploit the absense of engaged thought by fanning the already-existing flames of euphoria, passion, rage and hype.  And they know that they will be the sole political beneficiaries of the short, kindergarten-like attention span of a multitude of voters.

Example A:  Barack Obama was not elected president based on what he has done (that sort of thing is known as experience, and it doesn’t appear he has enough to even consider).  He wasn’t elected for what he can do (he hasn’t done anything up to now, how can we know what he’s capable of?)  He wasn’t even elected because of who he is (unless you count who some people imagine him to be…)

No, our new president was chosen because of how he is — well-spoken, smooth, totally hip and, oh yes — loved, worshipped and adored by Hollywood and the media.  Just the sort of candidate a people with the attention span of kindergarteners would elect.

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Our exploration The Kindergarten Principles has officially begun.
Next:  Kindergarten Principle #1 — Johnny, share your crayons — NOW.

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