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Liberalism Disaster After 40 Years
By J. Jeff Toler for Shenandoah Christian Alliance j.toler@sca4christ.org
“During the past twenty years, erotic and pornographic books and magazines have become universal. It is as easy to buy Penthouse as the Wall Street Journal.”
“During the past twenty years, information about birth control has become quite generally available. Moreover, technological achievements, most notably The Pill, have made the control of pregnancies easier. Indeed, the word went out that The Pill in and of itself was the great emancipator of women.” —Wm. F. Buckley Jr., August 20, 1984
Such critique seems almost quaint by today’s measure. People of Buckley’s generation—who begat mine, would be absolutely stunned by the decline western civilization has experienced in just four decades.
Arlington Mayor Jim Ross is facing backlash after newly surfaced footage from 2018 shows him using vulgar language and making explicit remarks toward a Christian street preacher.
The video, recorded by Vice News in 2018, was filmed at the Southern Decadence festival in New Orleans, an LGBTQ event held annually over Labor Day weekends. In the footage, Ross, whose face was blurred, can be heard addressing street preacher Ruben Israel with crude language and profanity. It’s so bad that I will not even make veiled references in describing it. But there it is for all the world to see.
Why are our elected officials and politicians so enraged and vulgar? A big part of it comes down to a mix of cultural shifts, media incentives, and changes in how political success is measured.
Today, political discourse has shifted away from measured debate toward more combative exchanges. The 24-hour news cycle and the reach of social media make it harder for careful language to gain attention. Outrage, insults, and soundbites spread quicker, and many politicians use them deliberately to stay visible.
If life imitates art, politics imitates the culture. Public figures present themselves like reality show personalities.
Relying on confrontation and unscripted moments to connect with supporters is deliberate. The intent is to replace policy discussion with performance.
Deep partisan divisions have reinforced the trend. With each party speaking more to its core supporters than to the political middle, sharp or even crude language can be an effective way to demonstrate loyalty to one’s base. At the same time, declining trust in institutions has lowered public expectations for formality and decorum from elected officials.
For some voters, blunt speech signals honesty and independence from the political establishment. Whether or not that impression is accurate, it has become a valuable asset in modern campaigning. In this environment, civility is no longer the default—it is one option among many, and not always the one politicians choose.
In the 60s and 70s public speaking was more formal and institutional
Leaders like John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, and Gerald Ford used plain but measured language in public, even when they were sharp behind closed doors. Television was limited to a few networks, so politicians had to appeal to a broad audience.
Ronald Reagan
In the 80s and 90s, we relied on soundbites and media strategy
Ronald Reagan brought Hollywood-style messaging, while focusing on optimism and controlled imagery. The rise of cable news meant more segmented audiences and more “made for TV” moments. Attack ads became common, but direct vulgarity was rare—insults were usually coded or clever.
The 2000s ushered in partisan media and polarization
Major media giants fostered explicitly partisan spaces. Politicians increasingly played to their base with sharper and more emotional rhetoric. The 24-hour news cycle rewarded sensational moments that could be replayed endlessly.
2010s and the social media disruption
Before they became the gatekeepers, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube gave politicians direct access to supporters without censorship. Outrage posts, memes, and viral clips built political influence.
Now, in the 2020s, it’s Politics as Performance
Many politicians now act as if they’re influencers or entertainers, using conflict to drive attention. Culture war issues dominate messaging, and verbal aggression signals loyalty to a political tribe. With trust in institutions at historic lows, voters don’t expect traditional civility from leaders.
A big part of it comes down to a mix of cultural shifts, media incentives, and changes in how political success is measured. This is nothing new really. The Bible speaks of our civilizational decline more than once.
Jesus told his followers, “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” —Matthew 24:34
Regardless of whether you interpret this verse as a distant future generation or the generation living in Jerusalem then, it’s crucial we be prepared for the end times.
Generationally speaking, scripture is clear on this point. Everyone will be held accountable for their own actions.
“In those days people will no longer say, ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’ Instead, everyone will die for their own sin; whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge” —Jeremiah 31:29-30
Who knows? Maybe the generations coming next will see the wisdom and truth… and see liberalism for what it is: a disaster. But I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you.
Photo by suroor mohmd on Unsplash
