Matthew Continetti wrote an article under the title
“Liberalism is a Hoax” and the subtitle: “Contemporary liberalism is a scheme
for the already affluent and influential to increase their power.” It was
published on December 6, 2014 in National Review Online.
Without defining liberalism, without telling what makes a
liberal what he or she is, and without explaining what a liberal act may look
like, Continetti goes on to mention incidents that have taken place in America lately,
citing the names of people who were connected to them, whether directly or
indirectly, and concluding that liberalism is a hoax. The readers are supposed
to make deductions as to what's what without the author committing himself to
any position. Why could he not do a better job?
He could not because he is hiding a mystery, not knowing he
is doing just that, not knowing what he is hiding. In other words, he is
operating out of ignorance, motivated only by the power of indoctrination. The
early Christians debated how many angels danced on the head of a pin; the
latter day Jews are debating the merits of being a Jewish liberal versus being
a Jewish conservative. Both debates being hoaxes, not because they concern
political orientation, but because the first debate occurred during the dark
era of early Christianity whereas the second is taking place among the never
enlightened Jews. And Matthew Continetti is no more enlightened than any of
these people.
Before discussing the New York Times which has been
identified long ago as a liberal newspaper, Continetti had written several
paragraphs packed with names of people and organizations which he seems to view
as being liberals, and other names and organizations which he seems to view as
being conservatives. The liberals would be: the St. Louis Rams, Michael Brown,
protesters and rioters, a St. Louis
television station and the movement to de-militarize the police. As to the
conservatives, they would be: the white police officer known as Darren Wilson,
the grand jury that refused to indict him, the convenient store, a clerk at
that store and the people who came up with the idea of militarizing the police.
And now that he is discussing a liberal newspaper,
Continetti seizes on its moment of soul-searching to countenance his own brand
of absolutism … perhaps judging that moment to be a relativistic one. He does
so by first telling of the questions that the newspaper has asked but has
admitted that it did not have answers for. He then makes two assertions that
stand on speculation and nothing more. First, he writes: “What I do know is
that the Times would be more definitive and emphatic...” Second, he writes:
“What I do know is that the assertions made by liberals have a habit of being
untrue.”
He tells what the liberals do that is supposed to be untrue.
He does not express such ideas in specific terms but in generalities, which is
a formulation that gives him the chance to define himself as a conservative
opposite. Here is this part: “Liberal myths propagated to generate outrage; to
organize, coordinate and mobilize grievances, often have the same relation to
truth as a [television] commercial.”
This done, he cites a number of published stories which he
says were put out by liberals, and turned out to be false. And he concludes:
“It is the goal of contemporary liberalism to command institutions resistant to
the left such as police and fire departments, fraternal societies and private
clubs, the military and extractive industry – and to alter them according to
theories of equality and justice.” Wow, it's like getting a ton of bricks on
the head.
This prompts a number of questions: Are the liberals doing
what they do for a reason? Yes, they are, he says: “Much of contemporary
liberalism reeks of a scheme by which affluent people increase their margins.”
But who are they? Ah ... huh … are you asking who the liberals are? Well, get
ready for a surprise. They are who they are, where you can find them … like:
“Liberalism, mind you, in both parties.” Both parties? Can you elaborate?
Elaborate you ask? Maybe … actually yes: “The Republican elite seems as devoted
as their Democratic cousins to diversity and immigration even as they bemoan
the fate of the middle class.” Ouch! That hurts.