Drastic Misdunderstanding of Conservative Thought

Dear Editor,
    It's clear from Louis Black's March 3 "Page Two" that he continues to possess a drastic misunderstanding of conservative thought. I have few quibbles with the politics of Mr. Black or the Chronicle and agree more often than I disagree, but this is irrelevant to your continuing inability to regard conservatives as educated citizens who merely share a different opinion.
    If you honestly feel that the conservative argument holds that "citizens require neither study, learning, nor specialized knowledge" and that "detail, rational argument, and logic are all the tools of the devil and secular humanists, used by liberals to try and obscure the Truth" suffices as a summary of the conservative perspective, then I fear you too far gone in the grip of righteous frustration to understand your opponents.
    The continuing use of "Page Two" to depict Republicans as willfully ignorant, zealous in their dedication to subverting social justice and democracy, misses the point and furthers the same kind of bile and polarization that's an impediment to any kind of real political dialogue in this country. You have to realize, Mr. Black, that you are dealing with people, many not unintelligent and unethical on their own merits, who truly believe in what they advocate and honestly feel it's best for America. Please don't lose sight of that. We're dealing with fellow citizens here, not Snidely Whiplash.

   [Louis Black responds: Conservative thought along political and ideological lines is one thing. "Conservative" actions, as we are experiencing them now, are quite different and seem to have way too little to do with the former. I really don't want to vilify anyone because it is counter-productive and anti-democratic. But if you can explain to me how the invasion of Iraq, wild government spending coupled with just as wild tax cuts, the vilification and trivialization of the judiciary, the disregard for individual rights, the attempt to undo the separation of church and state, the endless presssuring of Republican politicians to be in lock-step with the party, DeLay's carving up of Texas electoral districts, the amount of pork processed through the budget, the all out assault on the Democratic Party (by gerrymandering, targeting, ignoring precedent, and disenfranchising lobbyists) have anything to do with conservative thought or even the constitutional vision, I'd love to know. Please don't offer the playground retort that the Democrats are no better. I couldn't agree with you more, but that doesn't allow the Republicans a pass, and they are in power. Again, when it comes to conservative thought, I don't believe "citizens require neither study, learning, nor specialized knowledge" and that "detail, rational argument, and logic are all the tools of the devil and secular humanists, used by liberals to try and obscure the Truth." But when on right-wing radio, in letters, from political leaders and by pundits, I constantly hear that the "original intent of the Constitution being trampled by the Supreme Court," which is criticized for "making decisions that most Americans don't agree with," or the vicious attacks on Democrats, especially when it comes to expressing unpopular ideas. When legitimate legislative tools are threatened because they slow down the imposition of the vision of the ruling party (which is exactly what they are intended to do), or "majority rules," or "the Founding Fathers didn't mean to take God out of government." When I hear, the most hated, "I believe in Freedom of Speech but ..." or " I believe in Freedom of the Press but ... ." When it is said that "expressing ideas that disagree with the government is treason." Well then I think either the speakers are willfully ignoring, or else not bothering to consult, the very documents, laws, and ideas they say they are defending. ]