Conservatives don't read

It's either that or they only read what fits their worldview.

Yes I know this is a pretty far reaching, but I begin to wonder.

I have a few friends who are conservative (That is to say, New Yorker Twenty-something conservative--either they are in-the-closet-Republicans who can't come out because it's not NY vogue, or Democrats who are too busy worrying about making money to concern themselves with issues like civil rights and the war because, well, they don't see it as factoring in to their end of the year wage statements.) but, when they do speak up, which is rarely, they rarely can quote anything other than states they hear on the Fox news channel, Business Week, Forbes, and the Wall Street Journal Op-ed page. I now wonder where this lack of curiosity comes from.

Perhaps it is trickle-down ignorance. I mean after all we have a president who revels in his ignorance. He says he doesn't read newspapers, and prides himself on becoming the commander-and-chief while only being a C student in Yale. And then there's Dick Cheney who says he gets most of his information from the Fox News Channel. You know, the station that's run by Bush's cousin? And we wonder why our leaders seem out of touch with America. How can one be curious about the inner workings of the government and foreign policy when our policy makers don't seem to care.

But to me it goes further than that. I look at the TV or talk to my few conservative friends, who I consider extremely intelligent about many issues, who seem either apathetic about politics, or ignorant. They are lawyers, doctors, computer scientists, and technies who can tell you the inner workings of a Pentium 4 PC but couldn't tell you who Karl Rove is. (By the way, Karl Rove is Bush's brain. Just kidding...kinda).

For instance, I was talking with one of my conservative friends about the Enron scandal and corporate malfeasance (I've been wanting to use that word for a while) and he tells me that "[i]ts a shame, but we have to put it behind ourselves, correct the mistakes, and proscute the criminals-which is what Bush is doing." Yes, that is what he said.

I say, "But Bush cut the SEC nearly same time with the discovery of the Enron scandal. Look it up."

He responds, "Well I don't know about that, but I trust him, and hey--you haven't heard about any other scandals since then right?"

As Kyle's mom would say on South Park: What! What! What!

No this person is not crazy, nor mentally retarded. This is a person who has no idea of the facts, nor curiosity to find out anything more. He is willing to give this part of his mind to Bush, in order to free up his mind to focus on more important things, like where to invest his 1,000 tax cut that Bush gave him, and not the 5,000 he lost on corporate scandals that he and his children will have to pay off. Not that he wouldn't care if he knew, but hey, that info doesn't come to in the mail from the US treasury department.

These are the kind of people who will tell you that they don't vote because, regardless of party, politics is corrupt to begin with--but then tell you it's because people don't care.

These are the kind of people who want better treatment for workers, but not if it messes up their commute to work.

They are the kind of people who are luke-warm against the war in Iraq, because they still believe that Saddam had WMDs and links to Bin Laden.

These are the kind of people who believe that pollution is a serious concern and that we should conserve our resources, but think that Global Warming is tree-hugger bunk, created by hippies who are trying to deny them their right to drive a gas guzzling car, that gets them 10 miles to the gallon--but at the same time think that this countries dependence on foreign oil is a problem, and that we should research "new energy solutions" instead of conserving our resources.

As my father says, it would be funny if it wasn't so dammed serious.

To my conservative friends, let me invite you to read a book. Reading is not just fundamental for children you know, but it can help adults as well. You might want to start with the Constitution of the United States. It's the Supreme Law of the United States, a fact which you may not know...Unless you read it.

You may want to read the Federalist Papers by Hamilton, Madison and Jay, who were, by the way, founders of our country. It may give you some insight as to why civil liberties are important to our country. And finally pick up some history books. If you're pro-choice, or pro-life, pick up a copy of the Supreme Courts decision on Roe V Wade, or if your passionate for or against affirmative action read up on it. That way, you can stop saying "You know, I'm for it or against it because (a) Bush is for or against it, b) my Mom/ Dad is for or against it or c) I'm for or against it because my boss is.

Reading empowers and strengthens us. It's good for the soul, it exercises your brain and its more economical than a movie. Maybe its time we started doing ourselves what we recommend to our children.

PS: Oh yeah, and here's one final piece of logic that might win you over. Reading will help make you smarter, and when you're smarter...(Lewis Black pause)...YOU MAKE MORE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peace