Commit to Culture

It’s time for those on the Right to become openly comfortable with owning our beliefs. After that not-so-small feat, it is then important to retake ownership of the things that we value. We can’t shrink ourselves down and hope we find comradery by recognizing one another; two ships silently passing in a Bass Pro Shop aisle. Instead, we must get used to being open with our beliefs so that we can re-establish our stake in things like the arts, fashion, extra-curricular activities, and even environmentalism (why have we let “environmentalists'' steal this narrative from the true protectors and lovers of the environment: hunters, fishers, and farmers).

Having style is not just for quirky, Left-leaning creatives. Enjoying the symphony is not just for liberal arts graduates. Find a local leather shop to custom-make your briefcase. Invite your friends to watch Shakespeare in the park. Volunteer your time, contribute your money or both. Why? Because investment is the backbone of capitalism. People who are willing to invest in things have skin in the game. If you have skin in the game, you have influence. In fact, boycotting only works if your investment was significant in the first place. Own your power. Don’t just let the market own you.

The president and CEO of the Nashville Symphony, Alan Valentine, expressed the symphony’s distress in trying to bounce back from 2020 and 2021 in an interview with News Channel 5. During the interview, Valentine stated that they would be conducting a poll among the Symphony’s patrons to find out how the Covid protocols are affecting attendance. Presumably, the wishes expressed in the poll led to the current state of affairs: the Nashville Symphony continues to require proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test within 72 hours of a show you’re attending. They also still require all attendees, regardless of negative Covid test results, to wear masks. Despite dwindling attendance numbers, investors got the final say even if it hurts the bottom line.

COMMITTING TO CULTURE

“Sustainability” is a buzzword that the Left has hijacked. The virtue of investing in quality craftsmanship and innovative solutions to old problems should not be political. It’s a frustrating development since investing in quality over quantity is, in fact, a conservative value. The political Left in America commandeered the language of sustainability as part of their platform and the Right let them.

For the most part, businesses market to those who invest and actively advocate for their product. If you believe in free markets, you can agree that this is true, and you can also see how it applies to cultural luxuries such as music, entertainment, and leisure activities. Some would argue that boycotting businesses that signal their allegiance to politics they don’t agree with is the only way to express distaste with their political kowtowing, but we are in the post-covid era and there is a window for another proactive approach. Yes, you can make an example of stubborn, activist business models by withdrawing your business, but this sensitive/desperate period also lends itself to change through investment.

Sometimes virtue signaling marks a brand's alliance. But for the most part, it is a shallow marketing decision more than a marker of a company’s beliefs. We all know people who work within industries that signal political allegiances against the will of the workers — or even the leadership. Unfortunately, the marketplace and culture have teamed up to enforce this ideology regardless of its popularity.

In certain instances, expressing pride in what you invest in will make all the difference and can contribute to re-balancing the politics pouring forth from certain industries. How we act now can affect the marketing strategies produced by our culture and in our marketplaces. Whether the market continues to exploit Leftist ideology and virtue signaling for profit is dependent on the consumers themselves.

Destroy the boxes created by this hyper-political society. The goal isn’t to create a violent swing towards an economy that solely markets to the political virtues of the Right. Instead, it is to invigorate culture and push it beyond the hum-drum political tit-for-tat of the day. It’s a call to renew industries that advocate for living the good life instead of using political tribalism to push more product.

To avoid bitterness, where you choose to put your money is key. Your investments can be channeled towards businesses and industries that overtly align with your personal virtues, but there is also room to reassert your presence in existing industries. When fighting a large conglomerate, you can make an effective statement by pulling your investment, but now is also the time to make investments. Force the market to drop the virtue signaling with your willingness to own your beliefs and your willingness to invest in the things that you value. Find the balance, own your perspective, put your money/energy where your mouth is, and stake your claim in American culture.