We’ve all heard of Trump Derangement Syndrome. At this point, you’ve probably all witnessed it first-hand. Whether it be a Facebook comment that makes you scratch your head, or some of the whacky fan mail I get reading me the riot act.
There is similarly a “Freedom Caucus” Derangement Syndrome. The obsession that some people have with the Freedom Caucus is stunning.
Here’s what I’ll say.
There was a time when people discussing politics in such a point-blank acquisition was considered distasteful. I think there’s something to that.
Now you might think that’s a little odd, coming from me. But please, allow me to expand.
You see, people generally have better conversations out in the wild, than they do on the political stage.
Meaning, if I’m standing in line at the post office and making small talk with John Doe in line next to me, the organic nature of the conversation allows it to be productive. We can meet where we are: the weather, a joke, a polite how are ya.
Perhaps John and I have a nice laugh. He mentions he’s mailing some gift cards to his grandkids. I crack a joke about the price of mail. We talk about how everything is more expensive these days.
I don’t know that John’s the radical left. He doesn’t know that I’m the alt-right. (I’m kidding, maybe, depending on who you ask…)
Suffice it to say, we find common ground. We discuss ideas, not identity. We find commonality in our mutual human experience and connection. It is what brings us together for a moment as human beings moving about the world.
But, when a reporter picks up the phone and asks point blank if someone is a “member” of the Freedom Caucus, it can be a loaded question.
The article written by CSD recently is fascinating for a few reasons.
Of course, not everyone wants to have a label. Not everyone wants to engage in the identity politics and the mudslinging you subject yourself to when you don’t just choose a side, you chose a tribe. Especially one that has been as vocal in building momentum in a movement.
The attempt by several voices around the state to discredit the Freedom Caucus as a bunch of tinfoil crazies because they talk about chemtrails and transparency in government is wild to me.
Don’t the pretentious pundits see - this whole notion that they are the ignorant outcasts who don’t know what’s best for Wyoming is exactly why they were elected. People were tired of the establishment politicians who cared more about bitcoin and nuclear waste than they did who was in the bathroom with our kids, and whether we could afford our house.
The Derangement Syndrome is at an all-time high as some claim the sky is falling. Education is at a deficit, WYDOT has no money for big projects much needed, a budget session is upon us!
They don’t mention that these are the exact same issues facing Wyoming for decades while the establishment kicked the can down the road. It will be easy to blame the guys who have to fix it. But those of us without Derangement Syndrome know what has to be done to correct failed leadership.
Asking who is in the Freedom Caucus tells you nothing. It tells you a few people are willing to openly wear a label. That doesn’t mean the ones who don’t declare it, don’t support the voting and beliefs of many of the FC members.
No more than the ones who do are some part of something nefarious. Why is being principled and organized a bad thing? Why is challenging the status quo a far right concept now? Isn’t it ok to question how we can do things differently or better?
Why are we so obsessed with politicizing conservativism? Perhaps if we are too consumed analyzing and eating ourselves alive as to our “allegiances” we’ll forget the actual party we signed onto. Maybe that’s exactly what they want.
Being a conservative is not controversial. Most of us believe that you shouldn’t murder the unborn. There should be no more taxes than absolutely necessary for the essential functions of government and welfare for the truly needy.
We should believe in God, family and country – but always fight for the freedom of religion and expression understanding that is what makes us the greatest country on the planet.
We recognize that the Founders believed in God and true freedom requires choice, capitalism, an opportunity to thrive and succeed. To raise a family. To have the American dream.
Those are simple, uncontroversial concepts. Humanity and its flaws have made it complicated. At our core, we know these fundamental truths as self-evident.
Conservativism is bigger than a label. It won’t be politicized or radicalized by the derangement.
Cowboy State Daily columnist Cassie Craven is a University of Wyoming College of Law graduate who practices law in Wyoming. She can be reached at: longhornwritingllc@gmail.com
