Fair warning: I’m going to write a little about politics tonight. If you’ve read this blog a while, you know that a) we don’t usually do politics, and b) my political beliefs are purely derived from lists of talking points supplied by my fellow Norwegian-American Karl Rove. So consider this fair warning.
But for those of you who are staying, I want to address those Republicans among us who’ve decided to sit out this election—or even to vote for the Democrat—based on a calculation that the Republicans have fallen so low that there’s really no useful difference between the parties. I especially have in mind those who say, “The only way to save this country is to let the Democrats run it for a few years, so we fall into complete chaos and anarchy and everything goes up in flames. From the ashes a new, authentic America may arise like a Phoenix.”
Here’s my view—it ain’t gonna happen that way.
We Republicans are accustomed to thinking of a liberal-controlled government as an earthquake, an Armageddon (some talk show hosts are probably largely to blame for that). We imagine the country descending into Mad Max anarchy, where law breaks down and only the strong survive. We figure, “We’re strong; we’ve got the guns. We’ll win the Darwinian contest and rebuild the Republic.”
That isn’t how it happens.
In spite of our fantasies, liberal government doesn’t generally produce immediate social breakdown. The maddening part—and this will drive us nuts if it comes to pass—is that in the short term, things will probably look pretty good. If we become a socialist country, a lot of people will like it. A lot.
Adopting socialism is a little like quitting your regular job and becoming an artist. The first day—and the first month, and even the first few years (depending on how much money you’ve got in the bank from your nine-to-five days) life will actually seem pretty sweet. You can get up whenever you want. You only have to do what you want to do. As long as the bank doesn’t cancel your credit cards, you’ll have a very pleasant existence. You’ll say, “I can’t believe I put up with the square life so long. This is great.”
But the credit will run out eventually.
Look at Europe. Europe’s been living on its economic and moral credit for a couple generations. Only now are the funds running out.
Our country has a whole lot of credit. Eight years of Democratic control of the three branches of the government isn’t going to break us right away (especially if Socialism is introduced in stages). It’s very likely to look like progress to many.
So the issue isn’t the next eight years. It’s the lifetimes of your children and grandchildren.
My opinion.
I do take your point, Lars.
But credit has already run out. Republican administrations have messed up any conceivable future for the kids already (as Democratic ones would have done if they were in, and as they will do if they get in, in Nov.) with debt, illusions about the sustainability of our oil-based way of life, etc.
You took the words right out of my mouth,Lars.
Dale, the US public debt is immense and will probably have to be inflated away at some point. But the government running out of credit isn’t the same as the whole country running out of moral credit. That requires people to learn they can’t trust each other.
I agree, Lars. I don’t think the idea of conceding the White House and Congress to Democrats (that is, liberals) in order to teach voters a lesson or conservative leaders a lesson has any merit. I also think bad federal government will not take this country to hell. Many people in the US will continue to uphold justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God no matter who is “in power.”
That doesn’t mean we won’t have some hard times, some of us having it harder than others. Let’s not worry about the future. Let’s just pray for peace and work for justice in all things.
Phil: “Let’s not worry about the future.”
What? I can’t worrry about the future? What fun is that?
Seriously, not worrying wasn’t my point. I worry incessantly, and what I worry about most is incremental deterioration.
My political beliefs are purely derived from lists of talking points supplied by my fellow Norwegian-American Karl Rove.
This phrase is absolute gold.
Also, nowhere does the idea of delayed political effects appear more clearly than in the Supreme Court. Old decisions can live on there for a lifetime.
Yeah, I worry about incremental deterioration too. It’s everywhere. But you can’t fight everywhere constantly. You have to pick your battles.\
Really, I’m not disagreeing with you. Kinda makes you want to go into public service or politics, but I’m not cut out for that. I wouldn’t be a good candidate, I don’t think, and I’m the type who could walk across the floor of the house and punch the speaker we all know is lying.