SEATTLE/ Conservative Monitor -- I believe that we conservatives are fighting an uphill battle when it comes to getting our message across. Our point of view is disparaged in the press, in the schools and often in the churches. Many have never even been exposed to our side of the issues.

Just as many Christian churches are dwindling because their members are afraid to talk about Jesus, the conservative cause may be dwindling because we are afraid to talk about conservatism in a meaningful way.

For many years I have been waging my own personal campaign to counter the counter-culture. I think of it as Conservative Evangelism. This is the way it works:

Whenever I buy anything at a department or hardware store, I invariably express surprise when the clerk tells me the total. I make them add the whole thing up again, go over the entire bill. When the bill invariably proves correct I always say "Oh, it was the taxes. I can't believe how high they are!" This always gets a condescending nod from the clerk, but it does tend to get my point across in a fairly subtle manner.

Next, whenever I become engaged in a conversation with friends, family, or acquaintances, I somehow work in libertarian or conservative ideas. This is actually quite easy to do.

If I am talking about building, I bring up all the permits and restrictions that cost a fortune on my last addition. If I am talking about the weather, I work in a story about British whalers in the 1820's going far up into the arctic because the weather was unseasonably warmer then than it is now.

If the subject is the news of the day I comment on how funny it is that the press always pics goofy pictures of Jesse Helms and how distinguished Ted Kennedy always looks in spite of his big red nose and overlapping chin.

If the topic is wood furniture, cabinets, decks, frames or trees in general I always comment on how wonderful it is that wood is a renewable resource, and how there is more board feet of lumber in America than there was when the Pilgrims landed.

I try not to be overt. Of course, I have gotten carried away. While gesticulating with wide arm motions, I have even disturbed the equilibrium of a waiter carrying a platter of pizza at Pizza Hut. I almost got the Pizza on my lap.

As you can imagine, this punctuated my point quite effectively.

I propose conservatives begin a world-wide evangelism campaign. We can start with one easy subject. If we all just complained about the sales tax we might sway the mass of clerks and even a few store managers to think, "Maybe these taxes are a bit high."

It would be humble beginning, but it may just be these small random acts of conservatism that finally liberate the world.