13-Year-Old Author Defines Conservatism

Jonathan Krohn looked just like any average 13 year old as he sat in the coffee house drinking his hot chocolate, squirming in a too-large sofa chair. But he is not just any teenager; he’s an author and an up-and-coming political analyst.

Krohn’s book, “Define Conservatism,” is a primer of conservative political values for all ages that does just what the title says – it defines four basic principles all conservatives must share.

The son of an engineer and a drama teacher, neither of whom is very interested in politics, the home-schooled Duluth boy has been listening to talk radio and political commentary for several years now. He first became interested in politics when he was at the ripe old age of eight, in 2004, when the Democratic Party in Congress was consistently filibustering President Bush’s judicial nominees, particularly Miguel Estrada. Krohn was fascinated by the filibusters as to what they were and why anyone would want to do such a thing. From there, it was just a matter of research and a book was a natural outlet.

“Originally it was going to be a book to have conservatives get behind John McCain,” said Krohn, “but because most conservatives don’t really understand the definition of a conservative – they just look at the policies – I decided to lay out in a definite way the definition of a conservative.”

Krohn’s book is divided into four basic tenants that, all together, make up the basis for conservatism. Beginning with respect for the constitution, Krohn moves through respect for life, small government and personal responsibility, with each chapter teaching through the examples of historical conservatives and what they had to say on each issue, such as Thomas Jefferson’s remarks about how the constitution should be interpreted.

He was able to come to the four points through numerous interviews with leading Georgian conservatives who, Krohn said, all spoke with varying degrees about the same issues.

“I don’t want it [the book] to be my own idea of conservatism,” said Krohn, “I want it to be the ideas that conservatives agree on. I don’t think that all conservatives agree on everything – I don’t agree with all of George Bush’s spending policies. Not all conservatives act conservative all the time. [But] to be a conservative, I believe that you have to base your core values in these principles.”

The book is not geared toward any age, said Krohn. It is a simple read that could appeal to children (should they be interested), but the content is detailed enough to keep an adult fully fixated with the facts and quotes. At just shy of 100 pages, it can be a quick read. Intended to be both a primer as well as a rallying cry for a new conservative revolution of the sort begun by Ronald Reagan, the book also throws in two appendices detailing firstly why John McCain is a conservative and why Barack Obama would not like Krohn. Both are entertaining as well as very informative of both candidates’ policies.

Krohn is convinced his book and the basic values within would lead to a better America if only conservatives would stick to them.

“If we spent less money, lowered taxes, made everybody personally responsible and the government didn’t take responsibility for people’s actions, respect the dignity of life and that life begins at conception, and we respected the constitution and everything in it; if we did that then most certainly the nation would be a lot better off.”

Find out more about Jonathan Krohn or his book at www.defineconservatism.com.