'SIMPLE' MAY NOT BE 'EASY'

Philosophy: Liberals Hate It, But Sometimes The Conservatives' Simple Answer
Is Also The Right One.

SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- One of the more significant differences between
conservatives and liberals is established long before they lock their
philosophies into political positions. It is the running battle between
simplicity (conservatives) and complexity (liberals).

When I am accused of being "simplistic," I know that I am talking with
someone who walks down the left side of the street. With liberals,
"simplistic" ranks right up there with "judgmental."

The bedrock foundation of conservative thinking is found in the search for
simple solutions. Such thinking is abhorrent to the liberal who worships at
the shrine of complexity.

The flat tax, for example, is something that is popular with conservatives.
They aren't trying to get out of paying taxes but want to simplify the
process: no deductions, no writeoffs and no sliding scale. Above all, there
would be no forms that require an accountant to complete. Liberals want no
part of this because they are suspicious of simplicity.

Most of our social problems have simple solutions. The answer to
alcoholism, for example, is to quit drinking. But this, say the liberals,
isn't that easy. No, it isn't, but it is still the only solution to a
drinking problem.

It is irrelevant if the problem drinker turns to a support group, a trained
counselor or the church because they all lead to the same place. The only
solution is to quit drinking, and the methods used are only different
routes to the predetermined destination.

First lady Nancy Reagan was ridiculed maliciously when she offered "just
say no" as a solution to the drug problem. Liberals got a good laugh out of
it but they failed to grasp the rather obvious fact that the lady was
right. The problem will never be solved until people say no.

Liberals seem to have a problem comprehending the difference between
"simple" and "easy." They assume that the person who presents a simple
solution is saying that it is going to be easy, which isn't true at all. It
is extremely difficult to kick a drug or alcohol habit, but it is still simple.

This does not mean that all problems have simple solutions. It does mean
that simplicity is the place to start looking. If an obvious solution
presents itself, there is no need to form committees, prepare bar charts
and demand 1,000-page reports. It is the very core of conservative thinking
to look for simple solutions first and add complexity only if there is no
other way.

Liberals don't see it this way at all.