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The Arrogant Misery of Leftists
“Jim” (not his real name) is one of my closest friends. We practiced medicine together for a while, and then I helped him through retirement. I still see him frequently, including, for example, at holiday parties. He is very intelligent, and a nice, well-meaning person. He is also progressive, which I find fascinating. He hates Trump nearly as much as Gary. He voted for Hillary but wanted Bernie. I read about social democracy in places like Venezuela, and wonder why Jim would want that for anybody. For an intelligent, well-meaning person, that really is fascinating.
At a recent Christmas party, Jim said something that caught my ear. Being a polite, nice person, he does not discuss religion or politics directly (…although he makes a lot of oblique references and snide comments; in a polite, nice way…). But he went on at some length that night, making snide comments about the wealth of a mutual friend. We live in Hilton Head. There are a lot of wealthy people here. Jim himself lives in a $3 million oceanfront house which he owns free and clear, and he travels the world. His wife recently took her BMW into the dealership to get it cleaned, and then drove home in a brand-new BMW. She liked it. Why not?
So it struck me as odd that Jim would criticize anyone for being wealthy. But the other guy is wealthier than Jim. Jim wasn’t being vicious, just snide. And they’re close friends – in fact, Jim just got back from spending last week on this guy’s yacht in the Caribbean. Jim may not approve of Caribbean yachts, but he’s not turning down that invitation. He’s not stupid. But he does this a lot – I realized that we had had this conversation, about various other wealthy people, many times. And I started to notice a pattern in his other topics of conversation over time:
Jim lives his life by Judeo-Christian principles but rolls his eyes at Christians. He considers Islam to be a beautiful culture, but Judaism and Christianity to be primitive superstitions which lead to bigotry and violence. Don’t get me wrong – he loves living in a Judeo-Christian society, and he lives his life in a Judeo-Christian way – he just scoffs at actual believers of Judaism and Christianity. Those people are, well, you know…
Again, his criticisms are rarely direct. He won’t say exactly what it is that he disapproves of. It’s just a snide comment and a roll of the eyes.
Jim’s life has been a long, steady, dedicated, and focused effort to gain wealth. He was born into an upper-middle-class family and has gone up from there. He is a good physician but has made several shrewd business moves over the years. He’s taken calculated risks at the right time, was clever with taxes and investments, and has done very well for himself and his family. So, good for him. But as I mentioned, he habitually denigrates those with more wealth than himself. Why? I used to think it was simply an effort to establish his credibility as a proponent of the less fortunate. But now, I’m not so sure. I haven’t quite figured this out yet, but I think his arrogance requires him to continually express his displeasure with those people. You know – those people. He’s above all that. Are you?
His life was saved last year by an extremely high-tech medical gizmo. When he told me about this remarkable, life-saving procedure, he shook his head at how much money the company that developed it was probably scamming from Medicare. Probably. Because, you know, those people…
He admires socialism in other countries, but he very much enjoys the benefits of living in a capitalist society.
He rolls his eyes at redneck gun nuts, but if anything bad ever happened, I suspect that I would find Jim and his wife on my front porch because they know that this is one of the best-armed houses in Hilton Head. He scoffs at those who think they need guns to protect themselves, while he lives in a gated community. With armed guards at the gate.
He shakes his head at the Puritans who think that marriage is the bedrock of society, but he is very upset that his beautiful daughter has been living out of wedlock with her boyfriend (and their child) for the past 10 years. Maybe her daughter listens to him more than he thought.
And so on and so on. And so on.
All those things have something in common, I think. Maybe a few things in common. I used to think it was simple hypocrisy. But now I think there’s more to it than that.
First, arrogance. Those people over there are misguided. Jim is wise and sensible. On the other hand, I am constantly learning from other people. Even from people that Jim would not approve of. I may not really approve of them either, but I think you can learn something from nearly anybody. By looking down his nose at Christians, Jim scoffs even at the wisdom of the ages, seemingly without wondering whether there’s something in those ancient books that could challenge his wisdom. That’s high-level, effortless, unconscious arrogance. Even a lack of interest in the world we live in. What an awful way to live your life.
Next, jealousy. Rather than enjoying his own good fortune, he resents those who have done better. Thus, nothing is ever good enough. There’s always someone better off. What an awful way to live your life.
And then, misery. Everything is a negative. Even a technological marvel that saves his life – he finds something to criticize. Rather than seeking joy, he seeks misery. And he finds it. What an awful way to live your life.
I’m not sure that Jim is a hypocrite, because I think he is too self-centered for hypocrisy. His concerns matter and the concerns of others don’t. At least, not in the same way. He’s not being hypocritical, just self-centered. It’s ok for big government to cause Venezuelans to survive by eating rats, but Jim complained about “greedy politicians” when some new local regulation raised the prices at the Whole Foods he shops at last year.
Jim cares about his well-being, and his security, and his image. He also cares about other people, I think. But in a very different way. A way that I just can’t wrap my mind around.
Again, Jim really is a good person. I like him a lot. That’s what makes all this so hard for me to understand.
But maybe I’m wrong. Maybe Jim is just a stereotypical liberal, with the casual arrogance of the well-off, the hypocrisy required of those with nonsensical personal philosophies, and whose financial success leads him to constant, reflexive virtue signaling. And maybe my friendship with Jim is leading me to try to see things that just aren’t there. The simplest solution is usually right.
Maybe I’m confused not by Jim, but by leftism. I just don’t understand. How such nice, intelligent people like Jim could share even parts of the politics of Hugo Chavez, Joseph Stalin, Chairman Mao – heck, even Nancy Pelosi – I search and search for understanding. I listen to Jim. I read liberal columnists. I watch CNN (well, in airports…).
I just can’t figure it out.
The history of the Democrat party in the United States is horrifying (Jim is a 70ish-year-old white man whose family has been in South Carolina for generations – surely he knows the history of the Democrat party. The party that he continues to vote for.) The history of progressivism/leftism around the world for the past 150 years is even more horrifying. And even if you ignore the history, what do you get out of leftism right now, at this moment? Arrogance, jealousy, and misery. Even in otherwise successful, happy people, like Jim.
How on earth does any thinking, feeling human decide, “You know, I want to be a progressive Democrat.” How on earth?
The more I listen to Jim, the more confused I get.
Can anyone out there help me understand?
Published in General
Maybe, but taking a percentage back each week and increasing that percentage as they age…well, you’ll either raise a socialist or a libertarian, but at least the kid will be paying attention.
Plus their pigs were pretty sickly ;)
To a degree they/we can. It’s just that their blueprints don’t translate well to real life. Luckily for them, cognitive dissonance and related relating of unrelated things means that logic really is a yammering bird in a meadow (not worth listening too) as well as a stinky floral wreath (perhaps best avoided altogether).
There is a phrase I’ve heard from leftists, including those who insist that they are not leftists but are moderates: I refuse to believe that. I’ve heard conservatives say, “You are wrong and here’s why.” Sometimes just “You are wrong”, but I’ve never heard one say, “I refuse to believe that.”
You said it, brother.
“Being morally good” is a great cloak when you only want to fit within and support the system that gives you such a nice life. Remember, many psychopaths (and by psychopath I mean someone with what was first identified as “moral illness”, without empathy or any of what we would call a functional conscience) are great businessmen and outwardly upstanding members of society, and can understand everything that you feel, and can manipulate you quite well through it, while feeling none of it themselves.
Gosh. That certainly sounds…exhausting. Can’t I just Amazon Prime me some hope?
Here’s some hope for ya, brother.
I remember that; it definitely made an impact.
It’s completely logical. Unlimited immigration brings:
And…
‘Not a problem.
Money? We can print more!
I sent this article to my brother and his response was, I agree and know the same type of person. Jordan Peterson said George Orwell finally figured out progressives don’t actually like the poor, they just hate the rich.
I have two possible explanations that I do not think have been expressed previously.
(1) Your friend Jim, like many well-to-do Leftists, is sheltered from the consequences of his own ideology. Conservatives in America prevent most of the more radical ideas from being implemented, and the negative financial and social effects of Leftist policies don’t affect Jim. For example, if he supports a renewable energy mandate that will increase everybody’s electrical bill by 50%, what’s that to him? He has the money to buy a BMW on a whim. It’s the poor who get hurt, but the Leftist doesn’t think of this. He blames the suffering of the poor on some faceless, greedy capitalist.
(2) Your friend Jim is taking advantage of the “I gave at the office” mentality to avoid his own responsibility for the suffering of the poor and afflicted. This is a genuine problem, and you might think that someone who genuinely cares for others, and who has so much himself, would do something to help them. But the problem is overwhelming, and natural selfishness generally kicks in. Conveniently, Leftism allows you to believe that you’re doing your part by espousing Leftist ideology and politics.
I think that both of these are completely consistent with your report that Jim is a pretty good guy, a good friend, and even consistent with genuine care for the poor and a desire for justice. You just have to not think about the actual consequences of your ideology too much.
I think “greedy capitalist” is a great example of projection.
Dang it!
I’m greedy.
I’m a capitalist.
Just ain’t rich…
Yet.
So what is your destiny, my son.
You are hereby ordered to cease and desist in the use of copyrighted Lucasfilm™ material from the forthcoming Star Wars IX script.
I suspect that when our ancestors would drive mastodons off of cliffs the mastodons would be repeating ‘too big to fail’ all the way down.
Profit, he will not.
And because of the cotton content it will still have value as clothing material when we are wandering our barren post-apocalyptic landscape.
Enough of this self-loathing “the world doesn’t reward good character” stuff. It’s unbecoming of a conservative. Good character is a reward in and of itself…that is if one believes they possess good character. Thinking of yourself as a victim, even if you are in some way, is very unhealthy.
What reward are you looking for? What is the prize? If you’re happiness depends on faceless people in “power” that you vote for every 52 or 104 fortnights, I’d recommend further self examination.
Productive and decent people have a rought time. Too often, productive people are taken advantage of. But I tell you from experience, unemployment is way worse than bad employment.
So what you are saying is that I should devote myself to Batman, Superman and a wink and a nod to the Scoop-Jackson democrat love of the working poor of Spiderman.
And the second the Chinese got capitalism they made iron people wanted to buy.
For it is better, if the will of God be so, that you suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
9Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: 10But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
I guess I don’t see it. When does that happen?
First, if you wish to understand the Left (the ideology), listen to more Prager.
But, also, on a more personal note — I think you have to come to terms that your friend is not a good person. I know people like this, too. Maybe not as rich and successful, but just as miserable. I honestly don’t believe miserable people can do good in the world, although they may have the superficial appearance of doing so. They may even have the intention of doing so, but we can’t measure that. We can only measure the execution.
Does your friend visit the sick and the prisoner? If he did so, would it be a benefit or a burden to them? How does he treat people of lesser status — the waitress or waiter? Does he learn their names and interact with them in good humor as real people? Is he deferential to others? His wife? His neighbor? How many people will turn up at his funeral, do you suppose?
One feature of leftists — intentions count for everything in their worldview. They do not believe in objective truth so everything is subjective. And since they’re the best intentioned people they know, they’re also the best people and anyone who disagrees with them is sexist, intolerant, xenophobic, homophobic, Islamophobic, racist, and bigoted (SIXHIRB — it’s almost hilarious how Hillary parroted Dennis’s litany of deplorables).
It is highly unlikely you will bring him around to a healthier worldview (remember, he’s already better than you and has nothing to learn). He’s toxic and the best you can do is stay out of his noxious bubble as much as possible.
This is a thought-provoking post and comments, not only because it causes us to reflect on why those on the Left are the way they are but also on how us, on the Right, interact with them.
It reminds me of my best friend (besides my wife). He’s an Irish guy. He’s a pretty stereotypical European Leftie and there isn’t much we agree on, politically or otherwise. We disagree on too much to just ignore potentially contentious topics so we discuss our disagreements a lot. Both of us are quite outspoken and we can surely frustrate each other but we listen and don’t argue. I enjoy the conversations but often wonder HOW we can be such good friends. He can certainly do and say things that would elicit a much different reaction from me if it were someone else. I know he looks down on people with similar beliefs as me but comes to me for advice and over and over, and has proven he genuinely respects my intellect. Of course, I know people with different opinions can get along but it’s still strange to me sometimes.
Anyway, lots of thoughts surrounding all that but something I read a few weeks ago in Robert Osgood’s Ideals and Self-Interest in America’s Foreign Relations gave me some insight into your question. At least with my friend and I. It talked about the influence of our overall estimation of mankind on our foreign policy beliefs but when I thought about our differences on everything, they all seemed to stem from us starting from this very different place. On one hand, he thinks much higher of mankind than me and its ability to reason. On the other, he is constantly disappointed and disillusioned. Lots and lots of things we discuss where this all played out. I have a lot more to think about but I’m starting with our overall estimation of mankind.
If you think things could be more or less perfect, you need an explanation for why they’re obviously not.
At some point the only conclusion you can reach is that someone is actively preventing things from getting better, and that’s where the righteous anger comes from.
In contrast, I think it was Yuval Levin at NR who wrote that conservatives are more grateful for what does work than angry about what doesn’t.