July 18, 2004

Staying Small to Get Big

Listening to Terry Gross is only a treat for me when she isn't talking politics. I much prefer her menu to sell the voices of authors and musicians and celebrities otherwise known and unknown. But, as I am not her producer and don't get to pick, I can only switch the dial.

Friday I almost reached for it, but K needed something that she couldn't reach, so I was intercepted and providentially so. Terry interviewed Stephen Moore, president of The Club for Growth. It was interesting and informative and I was hooked when I heard this snippet of an advertisement run against Howard Dean in Des Moines, Iowa during the Democratic Primary. This line particularly lured me:

"Husband: 'Well, I think Howard Dean should take his tax-hiking, government-expanding, latte-drinking, sushi-eating, Volvo-driving, New York Times-reading…

His wife continues: “…body piercing, Hollywood-loving, left-wing freak show back to Vermont where it belongs."'

What made it even more fun was Terry attempting to get an understanding of why Howard Dean and those who would vote for him were characterized in that manner. Mr. Moore said simply that the people who supported Howard Dean were liberal elitists. Terry proposed that perhaps money was more of an indicator of elitisim than drinking lattes and driving a foreign car, specifically "the family friendly Volvo." (Ummm, Terry, I don't know anyone who drives a Volvo. Most of us are driving what we can afford and pray for safety and do our best to change the oil every 3000 miles. Volvo? In my debt-free, college-educations-paid-for, weddings-financed, retirement-account-where-it-needs-to-be-dreams. O.K. back to the regularly scheduled post....)

He replied that, no, it was not. I chuckled. It is so gratifying to listen to intelligent conservatives discuss politics with liberals. The libs are always so astounded to find out that they don't own the market on intellectual thought. He then gave the best definition of a populist (someone who believes in the people's ability to decide matters fo themselves) and an elitist (the public isn't smart enough to make decisions for themselves). He proceeded to say that most liberals are elitist, thus "there oughta be a law."

According to Stephen, the group is looking for "conservatives first, Republicans second" as supporters and those running for office who put "policy ahead of politics."

Sign me up!

Posted by Rae at July 18, 2004 06:16 PM | TrackBack
Comments

I dunno about the Volvo thing. My favorite car to-date was my 1980 Volvo 240 DL. A four-cylinder four-speed, it had decent power and speed, was big and comfortable for driver and passenger, and safe as a tank. Alas, it lost compression to the point it could no longer climb hills, didn't get very good gas mileage (17/22) and my wife was worried about its reliability after 240,000 miles. So I gave it away to charity. I'd still consider buying a nice old Volvo 240 if I could find one in excellent condition with less than 100,000 miles on it.
But to be honest, tho, I really don't like any of the other models, particularly after Ford purchased them. They just don't seem like Volvos anymore...

Posted by: Nathan at July 20, 2004 08:24 PM

Touché, Nathan.

There are conservatives that drive Volvos, but, even you describe the one that's affordable is a used one that has under 100,000 miles.

It was stereotyping, but it was hilarious and it made me laugh.

Somewhere in my archives is a post of comparison between R and I. He's a Chevy man and I am an Import Girl. So, I don't knock those who have them, but I was pointing out that the "average" American (let's get into defining that one ;) doesn't buy foreign and typically can't afford a car with the noteriety of the Volvo's.

Posted by: Rae at July 21, 2004 04:19 PM

The Volvo "thing" is real. Especially one who has the time and energy to say "Volvo thing". I have never met a man who owns a Volvo that ever turned a wrench on one. Look for evidence of grease under the finger nails. Engineering may be good on them, for sure. Just like the Japanese stuff. American cars got a bad name not from ability of the big three, but by economics of the time, competition and the function and paradigms of the industry at the time. Think about it. Japanese cars used to suck. Then the Japanese learned about quality from the work of Shewhart and Deming. Now they are good. The cars we make here are good now too. The U.S. has always been the cutting edge of technology and always will be. I will keep buying the big three.
There is no denying what your car says about how you live and your point of view. Check your fingernails.

Posted by: R at July 21, 2004 08:43 PM

I love your way of thinking, my dear R, because, as usual, you are right.

Posted by: Rae at July 21, 2004 11:23 PM

I like lattes, I eat sushi (when I can afford it), I read the New York Times. However, I ain't a liberal and I agree with Stephen Moore about liberal elitism.

Posted by: molotov at August 3, 2004 08:38 PM

Molotov- I loved his definition of liberal elitism and that was why it was so funny that Terry couldn't get passed the objects that his group used :)

P.S. I like Latte's, too; hate sushi; but read The Atlantic and Harper's.

Thanks for coming over here. I really enjoy reading your blog.

Posted by: Rae at August 3, 2004 09:35 PM
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