Monday, March 10, 2008
Now, Hold on a Minute
One thing and another, especially the nature of the Westerners who call themselves "Libertarian" but are most likely more properly called "Paranoid," has me thinking about politics and government. In the past couple of decades, the biggest noise from the Republican camp has been about how government is the problem. Ron Reagan said something like that, although he's taken out of context by most of those who quote him. In the same speech (his inaugural address, I believe) he said that our biggest special interest group is, and I quote, "We the People." That is who wrote the constitution, you'll recall: We the People.
I mention Reagan only because he's widely misquoted. Now I'm going to quote another Republican. One of their most influential presidents. The only Republican on money, and he's on two different denominations. I'm talking about Lincoln. Remember what he said at Gettysburg? "That this government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth." If you're a Republican who has been bad-mouthing government for the past thirty years you might want to go read Abe's fine words a few times before you complain again.
Abe knew that we are a democratically run country. A republic, which means that the government is the people's business. That means that, gasp, the government is, well, us. Which, ironically, does mean that the conspiracy theorists are right, after all. There is a vast conspiracy, of multiple wings (not just to the right) and many personalities. This conspiracy has interests that spread into every single corner of American life. The machinations of this conspiracy determine not only who gets elected, but what issues rise to the top of the public consciousness. These conspirators even determine who lives in what neighborhoods, and where political boundaries are drawn. Not just local boundaries, but State and even International boundaries as well. They send us to war or not, tax us or not, and have the last word in consumer confidence.
They are over three-hundred million strong. They are us.
So, please, don't blame the Liberals, or Bush, or the Religious Right, or any special group for the mess you think the country is in. Either make a meaningful suggestion, or just shut the heck up. We of the vast conspiracy will be very grateful when you do.
I mention Reagan only because he's widely misquoted. Now I'm going to quote another Republican. One of their most influential presidents. The only Republican on money, and he's on two different denominations. I'm talking about Lincoln. Remember what he said at Gettysburg? "That this government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth." If you're a Republican who has been bad-mouthing government for the past thirty years you might want to go read Abe's fine words a few times before you complain again.
Abe knew that we are a democratically run country. A republic, which means that the government is the people's business. That means that, gasp, the government is, well, us. Which, ironically, does mean that the conspiracy theorists are right, after all. There is a vast conspiracy, of multiple wings (not just to the right) and many personalities. This conspiracy has interests that spread into every single corner of American life. The machinations of this conspiracy determine not only who gets elected, but what issues rise to the top of the public consciousness. These conspirators even determine who lives in what neighborhoods, and where political boundaries are drawn. Not just local boundaries, but State and even International boundaries as well. They send us to war or not, tax us or not, and have the last word in consumer confidence.
They are over three-hundred million strong. They are us.
So, please, don't blame the Liberals, or Bush, or the Religious Right, or any special group for the mess you think the country is in. Either make a meaningful suggestion, or just shut the heck up. We of the vast conspiracy will be very grateful when you do.
Labels: Politics, Social Commentary
