Winning the Kids Over

Katrina Trinko notices that young Republicans give far less of a shit about what naughty bits go where than they should.

I’m 24, and I’m used to being the odd one out among my peers in opposing the legalization of same-sex marriage. But I also get the impression that very few young adults have heard a good argument for why it should be opposed.

Maybe you should give them that good argument! Next sentence:

It’s not that they’ve heard the argument that marriage should be tied to procreation – delivered charitably, with an awareness that many young adults have gay friends and/or family — and have rejected it so much as they simply have been emotionally moved by the case made by gay and lesbians who wish to be married.

There you go: people who are not having children are not allowed to be married. Good one! Follow the link she gives to the NRO editorial on gay marriage and after some moaning about being called bigots we have Liberty:

What the institution and policy of marriage aims to regulate is sex, not love or commitment. These days, marriage regulates sex (to the extent it does regulate it) in a wholly non-coercive manner, sex outside of marriage no longer being a crime.

Now THERE'S an argument that college-age kids of libertarian bent can appreciate: applause for the government regulating orgasms with a wistful nod at anti-fornication punishment.

David French responds:

Katrina, thanks for your post. I particularly liked this statement:

But at the same time, it’s foolish to ignore the social issues — and to give up on changing anyone’s mind. Social conservativism has a compelling moral vision, one centered on human dignity and the preciousness of life. That case deserves an airing, particularly to young adults, who may be more familiar with the routine mockery of social conservative values than with the arguments for those values sincerely and thoughtfully delivered.

This is exactly right. Implicit in many reports like the Times story you link to is the notion that young voters are somehow showing us the way. (This notion rightfully drives Jonah crazy.) We social conservatives have a good case to make, we should make it, and we shouldn’t turn generational responsibilities upside down by letting juniors lead their elders.

College Republicans who are, say, 24 need guidance from elders like David French, who is surely in his mid 40s and must ache to pass on his wisdom as death approaches. Will the youngsters listen or has the Ladies-Wearing-Pants Revolution gone too far already?