Opposition vs. Opposite-ism

Learning from the Evangelicals and the Pro-Life Movement

The Right has been forced to relearn many lessons regarding opposition in recent times. After being led by controlled opposition for the better part of a century, and after having massive shifts in ideals and tactics, little real opposition has existed for the last few decades. Mainstream leaders chase prestige and respectability, willingly sacrificing any ideals or principles in the process. Profiteers, masquerading as right-wing leaders, simply say what they must to the correct demographics in order to maintain their income, be it in the form of money or power. Weak-willed academics, having barely encountered conflict in the world outside of a book, view their adversaries more positively than they deserve and, in doing so, mislead those looking for guidance. Their time in the ivory tower has so warped their beliefs that they would sooner prefer a respectable Leftist radical (“respectable” because the state and media defend them) over an unfashionable right-winger of any stripe (“unfashionable” because they are so branded by the state and media). Any one of these people can seem positive or even bring real benefits wherever they have power, but they will not lead anyone to sustainable success. Any “movement” that these types lead will profit them immensely, but the ideals will never be carried out, and the most radical supporters will inevitably be betrayed and cancelled. Without a solid foundation in some principles or ideals, the many groups that constitute the Right end up scattered and volatile. The false and weak leaders of the now-controlled opposition end up falling into narrative traps. They end up adopting positions ostensibly opposite those of their adversaries while still carrying out what their adversaries want them to do.