The American Mind

>>> offers young, professional conservatives a chance to take charge…. improve the movement’s image problem,…

And the irony drips.

OK. First order of bznz for you YCCs; if you want message appeal, drop the dorky white shirt dweeb/wonk look and lose the vest that looks like it you stole it from dad’s closet; its two sizes too big for you. The long-haired gal (yes, that’s GAL) with the accent is your reference point for how to attract attention.

Second, the “It’s OUR turn” slogan. I understand what you are trying to say, and I applaud the sentiment. However, in hearing it – closed-eyes hearing it – it really doesn’t play that way. It sounds more like Me Generation presumptuousness. It needs a little work. (You might also want to rethink mimicking Obama’s “We are the ones…” narcissism.)

Lastly, I must challenge you to answer a question regarding your platform, in which you state you believe in, “decreasing the number of abortions”.

The question is: What conservative or moral principle is served by decreasing the number of abortions?

Anyway. I wish ya’ll nothing but the best in your endeavors. I really do. In fact, I hope you kick some ass. Lord knows its needed.

What’s the intended demographic, here?–that is to say, how young do they mean by “young”? (No; I didn’t read the platform, but I’ll go over there later and do so.)

One assumes that this is for kids slightly older than the demo ministered to by the YAF (say, 22-30), and/or that this organization is not conservative in the same way that the YAF is–that it is slightly less traditional in its approach.

Certainly stating that we want to decrease the number of abortions here in the U.S. is highly significant, inasmuch as it acknowledges that overturning Roe v. Wade may be unrealistic, and that many, many lives can be saved simply by changing cultural assumptions about abortion. Perhaps even more than by changing laws. (And, of course, there is the fact that using the force of the state to get women to choose life may make them less cool-headed about the decision to raise their child–or form an adoption plan–than persuading them to do it because it is right. That makes for better-raised and more well-adjusted kids and less-resentful mothers, and for happier birthmothers and less stressed-out adoptive parents. Better all-around that the decision gets made for the right reason, rather than the wrong one.)

Thank you, Little Miss, for the lucid attempt to answer the above question. However, I say “attempt” because you really did not provide an answer to the question. Do not take that as a slam; you are certainly not the first. It is an admittedly tough question because it demands a precise, yet simple answer. One just has to be willing to step off the cliff and do so.

Not to turn this thread into an old debate, but…

>>> it acknowledges that overturning Roe v. Wade may be unrealistic,

Man walking on the moon was unrealistic, and bad law is made to be overturned. Happens all the time. Even at the SC level.

I agree that working to change hearts&minds is laudable and is certainly part of the equation But as RvW wrongly and instantly authorized a greater Auschwitz in American society, I have absolutely no compunction in using the same mechanism to reassert a most basic right which RvW had no basis for removing.

>>>many, many lives can be saved

True.

Of course, the followup question is: What of those that aren’t? At some level of infanticide can we smile and say to ourselves, “Well done!”?

>>>Perhaps even more than by changing laws.

If sanctioning abortion, as RvW did, caused a near instant massive increase in the number of abortions it is logical to assume rescinding RvW would cause the opposite.

>>>And, of course, there is the fact ….

This is why the “safe,legal,rare” philosophy perturbs me so:

Rationalization does not trump an unalienable right.

Aside from all the above, my main point in posing the question was to examine the extent of the YCC commitment to principle. Their abortion plank is, imo, a sign of weakness, a sign of wishy-washy. And we’ve had quite enough of that.