Huge email-bag on my “Twilight of Conservatism” piece yesterday.
Commonest response: “Darn it, you’re right, but I really hate to hear about
it.”
Commonest line of dissent: “The US citizenship made no difference, Derb –
you’re still a rain-sodden fog-shrouded English pessimist. Americans don’t
think like this.”
Commonest lines of abuse: (1) I shouldn’t be writing for NR because I’m a
libertarian. (2) I shouldn’t be writing for NR because I’m a socialist.
(3) I shouldn’t be writing for NR because I’m a dipwad.
Most annoying misconception: I’m anti-religious. For the record, the main
emotion I am aware of in myself when confronted with deeply religious people
is envy. They seem happier and better adjusted than I am, and *much* better
at child-raising. However, I’ve come to the conclusion, after several
decades of trying, that religiosity is largely innate and temperamental, and
there isn’t much one can do about it.