Mumpower: 'Retarded' controversy is a farce of political correctness
Reporter John Boyle can be counted on for several things – his sense of humor; handy touch with the written word; and never missing an opportunity to pound on conservatives.
As a much-appreciated marketing agent for Asheville’s progressive movement, this past Sunday Mr. Boyle reached deep to find his full-page opportunity. It arrived from a stellar news source – a Facebook post challenging Buncombe GOP website commentary on the dangers of socialism.
Incidental to our article was a borrowed scrolling picture suggesting socialism was a “retarded” approach to governance. The use of that word to demean a developmentally impaired person would have been insensitive. That didn’t happen, but I must admit that my application was careless.
May I apologize for the oversight? For predators masquerading as benefactors, retarded was actually a gross understatement. “Treacherous” would have been much better.
Don’t look now, but Mr. Boyle has become habituated to advocacy journalism over ethical formats. As with all addictions, denial comes with the package. May I suggest he and his similarly hooked peers consider the AA model of intervention? The first step recovery declaration “I am an alcoholic” can be easily translated to “I am an advocacy journalist.”
Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen – and it’s no laughing matter. Our Republic will not survive without reporters relentlessly dedicated to the very tough jobs of investigation, balance and independent thinking.
As for the topic at hand, I’m grateful for the chance to suggest Asheville’s progressives are dangerously linked to socialism.
A quick dictionary reference centers on “A political and economic theory of social organization that advocates the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.”
With all due apologies to devotees of denial as a primary psychological defense, this dictionary agenda is reflected to perfection in the 21st century version of the Democratic Party.
It’s an easy confirmation. Pushing economic, social, regulatory, labor, taxation and administrative policies that put “community” – groupthink for government – in charge of commerce and production is socialism. Read the opposition party’s platform for a mirrored manifesto.
Republicans advocate a different equation for governance – and unlike socialism it works.
America’s traditional free enterprise system has uplifted more people than any governance model in history. Like all things of man, it’s not perfect, but it comes closer than any other approach to civilizing an uncivilized world. It doesn’t require forced participation; is largely self-correcting; and it doesn’t depend on the benevolent dedications of notoriously mercenary bureaucracies.
The Buncombe County Republican Party is fond of a simple summation of free enterprise we call “The American Success Equation.” It can be summed in four words – “Liberty + Opportunity + Responsibility = Prosperity.” That’s America. That’s how we got to such a special place in the world and why we should resist those who’d betray our heritage of hope.
Socialism advocates come in many guises. We like to describe those thus engaged as “Brand-X.” Their mission is big government. Republicans prefer big people – and recognize it’s an A or B choice.
To close out my response to Mr. Boyle, political correctness advocates and masked socialists, mind if I borrow from the deeper insights of conservative thinker Mama Gump? In this situation she’d offer a simple assertion – retarded is as retarded does.
Carl Mumpower is the chair of the Buncombe County Republican Party. He is also a clinical and family psychologist in Asheville.