October 10 2000

Read Missing the Mark With Religion: Part 1, Modern Liberalism; Part 2, Libertarianism; Part 4, Marx and the Worship of Man; Part 5, Self Worship: The God of Democracy Part 6, Enemies of Tyranny: Faith, Reason, and the First Amendment

Missing the Mark With Religion, Part 3: Compassionate Conservatism
Steve Farrell
Oct. 10, 2000

Things are not always as they seem. Marxism´s war on religion presents evidence-a-plenty that this notion is true.

From both the left, in the name of Social Democracy, and from the right, in the name of Secular Government, Marx´s Athiestical teammates have pushed, shoved, and pressed upon religion in public life until a bipartisan squeeze has effectively crushed what was once publicly pervasive into the less than popular enclave of that which is publicly suppressed.

Christianity, though tarred and feathered, spit upon and lied about, has not given up, however. In fact, thanks be to God, it has begun to grow up, wake up, and in some cases, live up to its duty to fight back.

That is good.

But that kind of good suits plodding Statists just fine - because they have a new strategy, and a new player in place, ready to confront, smother, and ultimately squash their noble but naive opponent.

The strategy he brings is actually an old one, rediscovered and brought to life by "the Monks of the Futuristic Third Way.” It goes something like this: No matter how strong you think you are, it doesn´t hurt to have an ace in the hole.

The ace in this case is a new assortment of bribes and bridges to the needy, except this time the needy are not your typical pack of peasants. Today´s "poor” are churches, charities, private schools, state and city governments, corporations, and middle class parents in search of more "school choices” for their children.

It is a brilliant stroke! Save those in the private sector who are struggling against the disastrous effects of socialism by inviting them not to fight against socialism, as they have for years, but to partake of the spoils themselves! What could be better! That way as the noose tightens around the neck of each pastor, parent, and professional they´ll be equally wrapped up in gratitude that the rope was free!

Of course, let´s not expect Compassionate Conservatives to be so blunt. They do have principles, you know. Here they are:

The Moral Premises of Compassionate Conservatism

1. Private enterprise, private charity, and local decision making is best, and when complimented by civic virtue, collectively represent the foundation stone of America´s success story.

2. Private citizens and private corporations in the interest of human progress ought to be free to pursue their economic, educational, and moral affairs with relatively few fetters placed upon them by government.

Freedom, however, requires responsibility. Therefore:

3. All private citizens, corporations, and churches are bound to exercise their liberties without infringing upon the rights of others.

So far, so conservative. Who could object? But then things change. Freedom also requires another type of responsibility, so:

4. All private citizens and corporations are not only bound by right-protecting negative laws, but they are likewise bound to perform certain good deeds for in behalf of their neighbors, their community, and their nation.

Compassionate Conservatism calls this civic duty. And while the duty to do good sounds somewhat like the Christian call to service, or early America´s plea for Civic Virtue, it is neither, for there are two key differences: Civic Virtue and Christian Religion persuade, Compassionate Conservatism demands. Civic Virtue and Christianity look to the Sermon on the Mount, Compassionate Conservatism looks to the Harangues of Karl Marx.

Not surprisingly, Compassionate Conservatism possesses an intrinsic distrust for human agency (they can do no better than to propose "coached liberty” and "subsidized charity”) - and a candid favoritism for one "virtue” above all others: tolerance, tolerance, and more tolerance.

Tolerance is the code word of their faith. But clearly its definition is not the rational Biblical one which embraces "hate the sin but love the sinner,” but the fanatical Marxist one which censures those who would dare to call sin, sin.

This new brand of tolerance legalizes debauchery in favor of social progress, and demonizes orthodox religion in favor of social solidarity.

It becomes, in substance, cruel and despotic. It preaches life, but denounces "litmus tests;” it preaches free markets, but steals from the "rich;” it clamors for democracy, but demands opponents "shut up and vote!” It compliments local government, but labors for the New World Order. It cries for greater accountability, but it outlaws negative campaigning.

As for the truly poor or handicapped, those who these socialists have for generations coddled and crippled, are stuck now, unprepared to face it, with a socialist OBLIGATION to work or else!

Finally, corporations are certainly not exempt from civic duty. They are, after all Capitalists, and Capitalists need to be taught a lesson. Corporations MUST, therefore, provide a vast collection of specified and unspecified benefits and protections to employees, and to their communities. Under Compassionate Conservatism, it will no longer be good enough to pursue a profit by honest means, corporations MUST now turn over their profits for the good of all. To insure they do, "advisors” will be appointed, and "incentives” will be given.

Claims, claims, claims

Compassionate Conservatives claim to deeply believe that re-enthroning private enterprise, private charity, local decision making, and civic virtue are noteworthy long term goals.

But then comes the catch: In the short run they believe that we must first work with things as they are, not as we wish them to be. Thus, their solution is for the federal GOVERNMENT to stimulate that which is private and that which is local back to life through the compassion of federal block grants, federal advisors, and federal GOVERNMENT/private partnerships.

These grants, advisors, and partnerships are to be directed to everything private and everything local with one whopper of a promise attached: They will "forever only help, and only advise.”

They want us to believe, purse strings are not purse strings. Well, that´s a good theory, but it´s only a theory. The facts, however, point to this: Purse strings have been, are now, and always will be purse strings!

Have we forgotten one of the very things Compassionate Conservatism sets its eye on saving - education - was subverted by the same kinds of federal aid programs for the "poorest of the poor, in the poorest of the poorest schools,” and the same kind of promises to "not control, but only aid” these state and local schools?

We shouldn´t forget. We should remember.

We should remember the 1963 Supreme Court decisions of Engel v. Vitale, and Abington Township, Pennsylvania v. Schemp got away with banning God, the Bible, Virtue, and the religious side of U.S. History from the public classroom because federal aid to those schools gave the Supreme Court jurisdiction.

We should remember, President Johnson defending these same two decisions told America: "That which the government subsidizes, it has the right to control.”

Could any point of law be clearer?

The Predictable Result

Alexander Hamilton warned 213 years ago: "Those who pay are the masters of those who are paid.”

It´s common sense! For any of us to believe otherwise, or to vainly imagine in our hearts that the road to the New Jerusalem is paved in Federal Green, let it be known from that moment forward, such a one as this has abandoned all logic, reason, sense of history, and faith, for a horde of emotion, irrationality, speculation, and superstition.

Compassionate Conservatism is not conservative and not compassionate. It is but the latest in a series of schemes designed to derail true conservatism and true compassion. If we are then to stand by America, and stand by our Religions, whatever they may be, we ought to reject Compassionate Conservatism and its ministers with all the energy of our souls.