Image 01 Image 03

Krohn’s still a kid, doing what kids do

Krohn’s still a kid, doing what kids do

Changing their minds, about everything. Despite the splash that followed Jonathan Krohn’s departure from conservativsm, I should hope this comes as absolutely no surprise to anyone. Discussing his ideological shift, Krohn said,

I mean, come on, I was between 13 and 14 when I was regurgitating these talking points! What does a kid who has never paid a tax bring to the table in a conversation about the burden of taxes? What does a healthy child know about people who can’t afford healthcare because of preexisting conditions? No matter how intelligent a person might be, certain political issues require life experience; they’re much more complicated than the black and white frames imposed by partisan America.

I have to say, that’s a fairly profound level of thinking for a 17 year old. There is no doubt that this kid is smart. However, despite what Krohn believes today, his ideology will likely change again. Maybe not a dramatic shift taking place in the public eye, but it will change.

Krohn still has yet to see much of reality. Sure, he’s probably paid taxes on his books and speaking engagements, but thats hardly comparable to 40+ hours/wk in a real job where you don’t live under your parents roof. He probably still has never purchased a home or rented an apartment (maybe a dorm). He doesn’t have a family that depends on him. He hasn’t held a full-time job and watched the government siphon off nearly half of his paycheck overnight only to squander it away effortlessly.

Krohn has undoubtedly done some growing up since his speech at CPAC, but he’s got plenty more to do.

The left’s lauding of Krohn’s shift from conservativism is as laughable to me as the right’s decision to put him in front of cameras as the new generation’s face of conservatism at the omniscient age of 13 (by the way, 17 is no more omniscient than 13).

CPAC 2009 took place at a time when the media had zeroed in on Barack Obama as the answer to all our problems. Of course, its now clear that Obama was not quite as omnipotent as advertised, but at the time, many refused to recognize this as even a possibility.

Putting Krohn on the big stage was a desperate attempt to put some element of focus on the right when every camera was pointed at the global panacea, Barack Obama. Was it a good idea on our part? No, I never thought it was. However, the fact that Krohn has shifted his ideology to a self-proclaimed center-left point of view should come as no surprise.

If this is seriously a talking point for the left, then they are as desperate now for a distraction from Obama as the right was in February of 2009. Should anyone really be shocked that there exists a 17 year old NYU undergrad studying philosophy who, gasp, leans to the left!

Don’t take the bait. Let Krohn grow up, enjoy college and evolve as a person. All we have to do is keep the discussion on the unsustainable national debt, crushing regulations that stifle small businesses, health care, an inconsistent foreign policy, unacceptable unemployment levels, lack of progress on foreign energy dependence, overall reduction in global standing…(trailing off).

Need I go on?

Disclaimer: I’m 23 and I’m a law student. I too have plenty of growing up to do. I do not have a family dependent on me, nor have I watched the government take away nearly 50% of my paycheck (yet). However, that doesn’t mean I have to stand by and watch as it does so to others. Nor does it mean that my general lack of wealth makes me blind to the reality that the concept behind punishing success is disastrous to an economy, and one that inevitably leads to a rampant expansion of mediocrity and underperformance in a society.

DONATE

Donations tax deductible
to the full extent allowed by law.

Comments

Phillep Harding | July 9, 2012 at 3:39 pm

You should do fine. Keep your scepticism high (the verify everything type scepticism, not the cynical “nothing is believable” type) and don’t get so deep you forget how what you are working on relates to the big picture. OTOH, don’t fall for the “Think global, act local” foolishness. (We have some game reserves here in Alaska as a result of habitat destruction of some sort of swamp critter in the lower lower 48. Real useful, that.)

It is more common than not that teenagers question or attempt to establish points of view independent from that of their parents. They start looking to peers and professors and other sources for information. This is normal and healthy. As their critical thinking skills develop, they push the envelope and test others’ reasoning. If they previously accepted parents’ points of view uncritically or without having a complete grasp of facts or fully understanding the reasoning, then they are particularly susceptible to new influences at these ages. That is why all the jokes about how stupid parents become when kids are in their teens and early twenties. Remarkably, as children continue to age, their parents once again become smarter and smarter.

“I became the child star of the right wing — like the conservative Macauley Culkin”

He got that right. Macauley Culkin went form the cute “Home Alone” kid to a screwed up teenager in a dysfunctional family.

“Four years later, I renounced conservatives — and they attacked me for it

I suggest that Krohn renounce the Progressive Left — and find out exactly what a “kid-glove” send off the conservatives gave him.

Who?

LukeHandCool | July 9, 2012 at 3:59 pm

If you hold up a talking bear for everyone to see, be prepared to get bitten.

Lesse…

this kid is planning on attending NYU…

to study “film”…

and would like to get laid, I speculate.

Gutsy call!

There are two orders which direct and influence our reality. The first is natural, including reproduction, finitely accessible resources, etc. The second is enlightened, which is a reference to the other causal force in our world, human consciousness (from which individual dignity is inferred). Consider both, then consider reasonable compromises, and your ideological variance will be limited, with the mean positioned near American conservatism (i.e. classical liberalism tempered by Judeo-Christian principles). It will also help to distinguish between philosophy (e.g. faith) and science. Too often the first is conflated with the second (and it is not mainstream religion which is the worst offender).

    n.n in reply to n.n. | July 9, 2012 at 4:08 pm

    Oh, one more thing. You must reject the notion of mortal gods. It is a safe assumption that we are all mortal, without access to superior knowledge or skill, and ultimately fallible. For this reason, it is advisable to focus on principles rather than individuals or cooperatives. It’s possible to defend the former, while the latter may earn occasional or even frequent criticism.

    n.n in reply to n.n. | July 9, 2012 at 5:17 pm

    Whatever compromises you deem reasonable and necessary, before acceding to them, consider the quality and quantity of their contribution to progressive corruption of individuals, society, and increasingly humanity.

Cassandra Lite | July 9, 2012 at 4:05 pm

“I mean, come on, I was between 13 and 14 when I was regurgitating these talking points! What does a kid who has never paid a tax bring to the table in a conversation about the burden of taxes?”

Well, now that he’s a wise old man of 17 with plenty of answers, perhaps he’ll explain how we can carry on a national conversation about the “burden of taxes” when HALF THE FRIGGIN’ COUNTRY doesn’t pay them.

I don’t think it’s a good idea to let people under 25 speak at political events. it’s heartwarming to see a babe make some good points, but he’s still a babe.

Georges Clemenceau (1841-1929):

Not to be a socialist at twenty is proof of want of heart;
to be one at thirty is proof of want of head.

Or, as one young man/father observed to me when I was still a childless young man:

The quickest way for a liberal to become a conservative is to have a daughter

(note: there are some (notable) exceptions to the above observation — as they say: all generalizations are false.)

TrooperJohnSmith | July 9, 2012 at 4:29 pm

Child prodigies have a way of rebelling against those who would deprive them of childhood and its normal pursuits in favor of making them a… prodigy. Marjoe Gortner and Todd Marinovich come immediately to mind.

Someone should ask Mr. Krohn about what would happen if people didn’t have to buy car insurance until they had an accident to buy coverage, what would happen to the car insurance industry?

Ohh right, rates would skyrocket because no reasonable actor would purchase it until they had a bill in hand that was greater than the cost of insuring! this would death spiral until there was no insurance for anyone as the industry would contract to the point no one could afford to support it. Everyone and absolutely everyone would be truly f’d.

“But, But, But that;s not fair; people who just had an accident really need insurance to pay for their damages!!”. Conservatism is not about being mean, on the contrary its about giving people choices to live their lives as they see fit. Not living your lives to someone else’s dogma. The chance to be the captain of your OWN ship and steer towards whatever star you choose. For the few brief moments in time that I live, let me have a country, a FREE country! Is that to much to ask?

A wonderful post. Thank you.

Yours truly,

ThOR