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.
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