Confessions of a Recovering NeoCon

[janx]

Since I have never written an article for LRC before, I figured I should start things off open and honest. Like an alcoholic at an A.A. meeting, I am going to stand before the group, admit my problem, and explain the attempts I am making at recovery. Again, like at an A.A. meeting, hopefully others will be able to benefit from my struggles. Without further delay...

I am a recovering neo-conservative. I’ve been clear thinking and freedom loving for 6 months now. Four years ago, when I was 16, my intellectual journey began to determine where I stood on the political spectrum. During the course of the past 4 years, I have sunk further and further into the depths of neo-conservatism and statism, only to be rescued while I still had a touch of independent thinking inside of me.

At 16, I became interested in politics due to a high school political science class I was in that stirred my interest. At home I began to discuss politics with my Dad who was a die-hard Republican. My views were shaped mainly by him. My Dad’s views had an inherent contradiction in them that led me down the wrong path. As I said, he was a die-hard Republican and supporter of neo-conservatives, but yet he also was an ardent states’ rights advocate, limited government advocate, etc. My Dad wasn’t that studied in politics so it seems he didn’t understand that there is a contradiction between limited government/states’ rights and the principles of neo-conservatism. I, therefore, didn’t know that there was a contradiction either. To the contrary, I thought that they were logically consistent.

I became a die-hard Republican like my Dad, even more so. In the months leading up to the 2000 election, even though I couldn’t vote – which devastated me – I was a Republican pawn spending all my time and efforts trying to convince others to vote "for my man dubya." I stayed up all night Election night, even though I had to work early the next morning, to see "my man dubya" win the election. Of course the next morning at work, while the election was still up in the air, I was nothing more than a mouthpiece for the Republican party. Looking back at these times, it is all very sad.

CONTINUED HERE: http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig4/truitt1.html

[janx]

1. I found this part especially funny:

I had flags on my car, in my room, on my clothing, and I even contemplated getting a tattoo of the American flag to show my loyalty. Loyalty to the State meant so much to me. I would tear up whenever I heard the Star-Spangled-Banner or would recite the Pledge. I honestly felt that those who disagree with America’s policies were nothing but anti-Americans and should get out. "Love it or leave it!"

[StandWatie]

3. complete statist indoctrination

freaky..

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. Kind of made me think...

If we play a country song in reverse, will there be a happy ending?

[realFedUp]

4. that made me laugh

...

[qb]

5. This is why NeoCons are against teaching methods that encourage

critical thinking. It only takes a seed of doubt to turn someone's mind around.

[smallprint]

6. he doesn't really say what made him switch

other than a cursory nod to lew rockwell's site. i would like to know what really happened.

[janx]

7. I don't know, but this essay is funny.

It gets more so with every read.

[shatoga]

8. Reposted

Because I also was once in the "cult of conservatism"
and have empathy for others who have escaped

and learned to think for themselves!

(Instead of being dittoheads for rightwing propaganda)

http://www.chemtrailcentral.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/001363.html#20

[TheYellowDog]

9. So this guy is

now a diehard libertarian, instead of a diehard neocon? Last time I checked, Rockwell was a Libertarian.

[StandWatie]

10. step in the right direction..