CATERINGTO THE LOWEST POLITICAL COMMON DENOMINATOR … DEFINING ECONOMIC & FOREIGN POLICY DOWN: THE CHARACTER OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE: YOU CANT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS By Ron Lipsman, “American Thinker”, October 27, 2013 americanthinker/2013/10/the_character_of_the_american_people_you_cant_have_it_both_ways.html The point of this essay is to reconcile -- if possible -- two inherently contradictory characteristics that conservatives attribute to the American people. Not surprisingly, these are difficult days for American conservatives. The most radical leftist president in the history of the United States was re-elected last fall. Through a combination of steadfast duplicity and political chicanery, he has steered public opinion toward fundamental distrust of conservative principles and policy. The Republican Party has abetted his efforts by means of pubic disunity, amazingly poorly executed tactics, and a deep demoralization about its future prospects. The odds of a Democrat Party capture of the House in 2014 have improved -- which event would likely result in: legalization of 10-20 million illegal aliens; a cap and trade regime; card check and the re-unionization of the private sector; accelerated U.S. disarmament; and, of course, an avalanche of deficits, debt, taxation, borrowing, and regulations. If the U.S. hasnt already passed the tipping point between constitutional republic and collectivist social welfare state, then it certainly will under the second coming of Obama-Pelosi-Reid. When conservatives write and speak about this deplorable state of affairs, they tend to make contradictory assertions about the current and future response of the American people to this increasingly dangerous situation. On the one hand, conservatives will trace the history of the grand American experiment in government of, by, and for the people. They will point out several key characteristics of the people that rendered us unique among the Earths inhabitants spread among the nations. These usually include: • a nation of immigrants, most of whom sought freedom and opportunity, and who were willing to work hard to achieve these goals, thereby giving rise to a stock of people more devoted to liberty and free enterprise than any other people; • a nation steeped in religious morals that gave rise to a moral code, which favored the rule of law, a deep sense of individual responsibility, commitment to charity, and a toleration for the other; • a hardy people, proud of its heritage, confident of its future, and willing to defend to the death its beliefs and way of life; • a striving by its citizens to attain the highest levels of education, including an exposure to the various political and cultural systems deployed (present and past) in the world -- thus enabling them to fully participate in the governance of the nation; • and finally, the unabashed acknowledgment of the superiority of the American way and a commitment to spread the notions underlying the American experiment to its neighbors worldwide (American “exceptionalism”). Conservatives often argue that the people still adhere to these values -- it is in their blood. Although the people may be temporarily blinded by the century-long progressive assault that has undermined the structures of classical American culture/politics/economics … [goes this argument] … their innate nature will soon re-emerge and propel the nation to recapture its natural, historical traits -- and re-install its classic style of government. At the same time, conservatives can be heard and read to lament in the most dire terms the deterioration of the character of the American people. In their blogs and tweets, in the pages of the “National Review” and other right-leaning periodicals and newspapers, and of course on Fox News, one constantly encounters ideas such as: • The American electorate is now dominated by low-information voters -- that is, those who know virtually nothing about the radical restructuring that has been perpetrated on American society, and who unthinkingly vote for leftists who promise to keep their welfare goodies flowing. • The brainwashing of the American public by the liberal-dominated public schools, media, and federal bureaucracy has been extremely effective. There is little hope of overcoming the transformation that the brainwashing has produced -- most people dont even realize what has been done to them. • We are a nation of takers -- no longer one of makers. • Fealty to the Constitution as the binding document that governs our lives has been supplanted by a belief that it is an old document, an out-of-date recipe for life in the eighteenth century, and not really applicable to American life in the twenty-first century. • Americans now accept that it is the responsibility of the federal government to address any and all problems that afflict any segment of American society. We see here two assessments of the character of the American people… Well, which is it? You cant have it both ways! Is America a sleeping giant poised to regain its classic nature? Or is it so far down the road to Euro-socialism that a U-turn is no longer possible? Are the people of America truly fed up with Obamacare, the EPA, a federal debt approaching $20 trillion, Obamas ill-concealed unilateral disarmament, and his administrations blatant flouting of the Constitution? Or are they perfectly content with 50 million food stamp customers, unsustainable debt, out-of-control entitlement obligations, multiculturalism and multilateralism, and forced equality? Do most Americans fit the first description? Or the second? It has to be one or the other. The two postures are IRRECONCILABLE. Conservatives cannot bolster their faith in a renewal and rue the declining of America by simultaneously citing both characteristics… There is one additional possibility -- namely, were split almost evenly down the middle. Ah, but as in baseball, where a tie goes to the runner, in this case a tie goes to the statists. If the constitutional republic is to be restored, it can only happen if a substantial majority of Americans want it to happen. MY RESPONSE: None of the above is likely to happen in era when entitlement spending under the Obama administration is soaring; And (2) when a disadvantaged single mother can earn more money from government subsidies than working at conventional job in the private sector; And (3) self-interested social agencies rush to sign up more candidates for federal subsidies, or risk losing their annual federal funding revenues; And (4) Counterfeiters are now churning out fake food stamp identity cards, to be used multiple times by the same user, or by illegal immigrants. And (5) Unconstitutional amendments to Obamacare (via “executive authority”) has granted numerous exemptions (to Obamacase for health insurance) to Barack Obama, his family, campaign contributors, and ultimately to union bosses & their members. In the meantime, it the middle class & the poor who bear the burdens of this badly conceived (and very badly executed, initially) unaffordable, “one-size-fits-all” health plan. And (6) Barack Obama shies away from making crucial leadership decisions, in both domestic and foreign policy. And that’s because this flawed narcissist never can be wrong … even if millions of ordinary Joes suffer because of his lack of political will. And finally, (7) American got what they voted for, a personable non-stop campaigner, whose only real job – as community organizer – disqualified him from governing the United States as President. The hidden deficit continues to rise in the TRILLIONS; paltry GDP growth of approximately one-quarter per-cent means current government spending is unsustainable; and the total bankruptcy of the United States of America in only a matter of time. So much for the “hope & changey thingee”, as Sarah Palin puts it. It seems like the only thing that the White House economic policies can manufacture is debt! Nuff said. POSTCRIPT: My flu has still not yet abated yet; but once in a while – like tonight – the prescribed medication gives me a few hours of lucidity to enter a Facebook “post” like tonight’s. I still am NOT able to post on a regular basis, as is my customary habit. But on occasion, when temporary lucidity hits (like tonight) I will try and post again. My thanks for your patience.
Posted on: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 06:39:50 +0000
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