The Conservative Case for Lithuania
Here's the latest dispatch.
Good evening,
For you newbies out there, welcome to Outsider on the Inside. I hope this dispatch from in and around the nation’s capital on underreported topics finds you well.
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Now that I’m back from Europe, the usual format will resume.
Quick Thoughts
Support and follow the work of IWF’s Center for Energy and Conservation today if you haven’t already.
RIP Dame Maggie Smith.
Israel reportedly eliminated Hezbollah’s leader.
Netanyahu is correct: UN is a “swamp of anti-semitic bile.”
National Energy Appreciation Day is a week away.
Prayers up to those in impacted by Hurricane Helene—especially in Florida and western North Carolina.
That’s all for now. Stay tuned for next week’s dispatch on Friday!
American Conservatives Should Find Common Ground With Lithuania
In recent years, national conservatives - or “NatCons” - have romanticized Hungary as a paragon of conservatism to emulate.
Hungary, undoubtedly, is a beautiful country with freedom-loving people who share many American and conservative values. But should Republicans, including the MAGA movement, replicate Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s agenda? Not so fast, says conservative commentator David Harsanyi, whose family hails from Hungary. He cautioned, “Orbanism" -- which I am no fan of -- has tons in common with American leftism. If Orban's goals were cultural leftist they'd love him.”
Alternatively, I propose my fellow American conservatives look more northerly to Lithuania— my ancestral homeland–for inspiration. Lithuania was the first of 15 occupied nations to break free of the Soviet Union. The evils of totalitarianism are still raw there, as I saw during a recent visit to the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights in Vilnius.
There’s much to love about our Baltic ally and happiest country for people 30 and younger. Why? American conservatives and Lithuanians are inextricably linked over shared love of freedom, big government skepticism, firearms ownership, and reverence for timeless values.
It’s important to strengthen alliances with countries that like us and without radically abandoning our system as NatCons frequently suggest.
Let’s find more common ground with freedom-loving Lithuanians to better appreciate timeless conservative values here at home.
Learn the ‘Dam’ Truth About Hydropower
ICYMI
Articles/commentary/media appearances from the past week.
MEDIA MENTIONS
I was interviewed by Fox Business on the energy landscape going into the 2024 election.
ARTICLES/BLOGS
IWF: Two Truths And A Lie: National Hunting And Fishing Day
IWF: 3 Important Updates For American Nuclear Energy
District of Conservation
Catch up on District of Conservation episodes below.
And check out a new episode of The Sportswoman Show with Mary O’Neill Phillips of Country Outdoors.
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—Gabriella
Gabriella. Thank you very much for this post. It really seems that this 72 year old retired baby boomer would be right at home and quite comfortable in Lithuania 🇱🇹 absent the language barrier. Christian, constitutional conservative here with some libertarian leanings. Of German and UK descent ( Irish, Scottish and Welsh) I think I would find much commonality with Lithuanians. I thoroughly enjoyed your article and look forward to seeing more from you. Enjoy the weekend.