In a very real sense Steyn is correct. Think of it as culture vs creed. One of the reasons that talk radio has been dominated by conservative commentators is that it is a reaction to the large pushes in popular culture - think of music and news reporting on the radio as the counter to talk radio. The nightly talk/news programs on Fox, MSNBC, CNN and the like, are another example. The liberal shows dont do well in the ratings, but in a sense they dont need to. Much of their views get expressed in other news programs and reporting, both in print and on the tube. The Sunday morning talk circuit never has high ratings, but they remain, largely so that liberals are seen as reasonable and mainstream with out takes carried on other programs and papers. Mainstream newspapers struggle with circulation, yet popular culture mags, now mostly virtual, continue to chug along. In some cases they lose money, but are supported by the liberal elites at the top of the corporate entity and other do very well by sticking to straight liberal views on culture rather than politics. BUT, the reality is that elections matter. While culture affects politics, politics and policy can have real impact and well beyond the immediate. What Steyn points to is the emotion battle for the minds and souls of the people, and that popular culture is an easy and backdoor way for liberals to push society and politics its direction. A mistake we conservatives make is to not concern ourselves with daily life and to focus too much at times on politics. We abandon the field to the other side, making it easier for them. There are some of us concerned with culture, but overall we are too often portrayed as unconcerned or out of touch. We are not. We care deeply about it. But we are poor at communicating our concerns and why our views may be in fact good for our society. We also tend not to think of people in the context of people being citizens.
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 05:37:28 +0000
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