Saturday, April 22, 2017

Culture Wars


The Republicans now control Congress, the White House, the Supreme Court and 2/3rds of the states' legislatures ... obviously a huge win in the political wars. This is a bit surprising since the Democrats keep winning the cultural wars ... as exemplified by Bill O'Reily recent ouster from Fox News. The Democrats, by diluting the Fox message, now have even a bigger strangle hold on the media. And since they also control Hollywood, higher education,Wall Street, most of the music business, foundations, the Internet social media and, increasingly, sports broadcasting, they are bound to make a political comeback if they can just find a few likable candidates.

Unless, of course, conservatives can somehow begin to make equivalent inroads in the cultural wars. But how? Well, the longest journey starts with a few steps.  I can think of two modest initial targets ... journalism schools and foundations. This won't be easy as these two institution are loaded with progressives. Let us look at each one separately:

- For the journalism schools, may I suggest that some wealthy conservatives endow some inspirational and conservative professors to teach courses like Journalistic Ethics or The Rule of Law or Facts vs. Opinion. Perhaps a few students might be disuaded from being proxy politicians.

- For the foundations, I would suggest that a few lawsuits might be initiated to insure that now-liberal foundations be forced to comply with their original charters ... many of which are far afield from that which they now practice. I suspect that many of those who set up foundations for noble ends are spinning in their graves over what has happened to their beloved intentions.

Just accomplishing these two started goals would be a good win in the other, equally-important battle ... the  conservatives' battle to win back the culture wars. But in any case it should be a long slogue.

9 comments:

ChillFin said...

Examples, please, of conservative foundations that are non-compliant with their original charters.

DEN said...

I agree with the need for a higher standard for journalistic truth telling and ethics. This might ameliorate 'fake news' from the fringes on both ends. The second suggestion is pretty vague...what would be the grounds for these lawsuits?

George W. Potts said...

Let's try Ford Foundation, Lutheran Church Charities, Hearst Foundation, and many more. This is a worth research subject. But time and time again I see foundations supporting uber liberal causes which are against the grain of their founders anti guns, pro illegal immigrants, BLM, etc. Careful reading of their endowment terms would reveal those that have subverted the intent of their founders.

ChillFin said...

"LCC works throughout the United States and Internationally in bringing the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those Suffering and in Need." Those are what conservatives refer to as liberal causes... Same agenda, mission and charter they have always had.

ChillFin said...

Ford Foundation's mission: "to receive and administer funds for scientific, educational and charitable purposes, all for the public welfare." OMG! They even use the "W" word!

ChillFin said...

Hearst Foundation's mission: The Hearst Foundations identify and fund outstanding nonprofits to ensure that people of all backgrounds in the United States have the opportunity to build healthy, productive and inspiring lives.

ChillFin said...

The Heritage Foundation's mission: Heritage's stated mission is to "formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense". Ooohh!! Formulating and promoting. Let's see, which acts of charity are those two? Didn't Jesus formulate and promote?

ChillFin said...

Maybe your preference is: The heart of The NRA Foundation’s mission is preserving the core of our American values and traditions in our steadfast effort to Teach Freedom.

Established in 1990, The NRA Foundation, Inc. (“NRA Foundation”) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that raises tax-deductible contributions in support of a wide range of firearm-related public interest activities of the National Rifle Association of America and other organizations that defend and foster the Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding Americans.

George W. Potts said...

May I suggest:
- Check interlocking foundation directorships
- Track how charters have changed over time
- Watch who gets the grants and look behind the boilerplate language
- See what foundations gave money to the Clinton Foundation