Curtis Dahlgren
A 30-second seminar on the political 'games' (for batter or worse)
By Curtis Dahlgren
"A nation that expects to be ignorant and free is a nation that never was and never will be." — T. Jefferson
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO UTOPIA. Alexis de Tocqueville put it this way:
"I seek to trace the novel features under which despotism may appear in the world. The first thing that strikes the observation is an innumerable multitude of [laypersons] . . Above this race of men stands an immense and tutelary power, which takes upon itself alone to secure their gratifications, and to watch over their fate . . .
"It would be like the authority of a parent, if, like that authority, its object was to prepare men for manhood; but it seeks on the contrary to keep them in perpetual childhood [to age 26 and beyond?] . . .
"[The elitist] chooses to be the sole agent and only arbiter of that happiness: it provides for their security [etc. but] what remains, but to spare them all the care of thinking . . .
"[He] covers the surface of society with a network of small complicated rules, minute and uniform, through which the most original minds and the most energetic characters cannot penetrate, to rise above the crowd . . . . "
Can you say "32 ounce Slurpie," boys and girls? Can you say free birth control mandated by the White House? Can you say subsidized hedonism and nihilism? Can you say "goodbye" to Freedom of Conscience? Hello totalitarianism?
In his first inaugural address, President James Monroe said:
"What has raised us to the present happy state [1816]? . . . The Government has been in the hands of the people. To the people, therefore, and to the faithful and able [representatives] of their trust is the credit due. Had the people . . been less intelligent, less independent, or less virtuous, can it be believed that we should have been blessed with the same success? While then [America] retains its sound and healthful state, everything will be safe . . .
"It is only when the people become ignorant and corrupt, when they degenerate into a populace, that they are incapable of exercising the sovereignty. Usurpation is then an easy attainment, and an usurper soon found. The people themselves become the willing instruments of their own debasement and ruin."
Half of the people who just voted for "Santa Claus" probably wouldn't be able to define "usurper" to save their lives, nor recognize one when they saw one. Well, if we can't beat 'em, maybe we should join them:
You want free birth control? Okay, then give us free car insurance. Free insurance and free gasoline. Free insurance and free gas and free car repairs. Shoot, let the "rich" buy us the car, too! How about a free bed to go with the birth control, eh? Just remember one thing from history: that which becomes "free" soon becomes scarce or totally unavailable!
BY THE WAY, Webster says that "usurp" means "to seize or hold power or position" (etc.) by force OR "without legal right." [Can you say voter fraud, boys and girls? Can you say bribery and vote buying?]
P.S. We are told that Gov. Romney got three million fewer votes than John McCain did in 2008. That amounts to 60,000 fewer per state. For real? Shucks, the Palin voters would have given Romney twice that many extra votes per state if the RINOs hadn't dissed the Tea Party!
IN CONCLUSION, THE LESSONS OF THE 2012 ELECTION:
1) "Nice" guys finish last.
2) America may not even deserve a nice guy "at this point in time"!
© Curtis Dahlgren
November 9, 2012
"A nation that expects to be ignorant and free is a nation that never was and never will be." — T. Jefferson
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO UTOPIA. Alexis de Tocqueville put it this way:
"I seek to trace the novel features under which despotism may appear in the world. The first thing that strikes the observation is an innumerable multitude of [laypersons] . . Above this race of men stands an immense and tutelary power, which takes upon itself alone to secure their gratifications, and to watch over their fate . . .
"It would be like the authority of a parent, if, like that authority, its object was to prepare men for manhood; but it seeks on the contrary to keep them in perpetual childhood [to age 26 and beyond?] . . .
"[The elitist] chooses to be the sole agent and only arbiter of that happiness: it provides for their security [etc. but] what remains, but to spare them all the care of thinking . . .
"[He] covers the surface of society with a network of small complicated rules, minute and uniform, through which the most original minds and the most energetic characters cannot penetrate, to rise above the crowd . . . . "
Can you say "32 ounce Slurpie," boys and girls? Can you say free birth control mandated by the White House? Can you say subsidized hedonism and nihilism? Can you say "goodbye" to Freedom of Conscience? Hello totalitarianism?
In his first inaugural address, President James Monroe said:
"What has raised us to the present happy state [1816]? . . . The Government has been in the hands of the people. To the people, therefore, and to the faithful and able [representatives] of their trust is the credit due. Had the people . . been less intelligent, less independent, or less virtuous, can it be believed that we should have been blessed with the same success? While then [America] retains its sound and healthful state, everything will be safe . . .
"It is only when the people become ignorant and corrupt, when they degenerate into a populace, that they are incapable of exercising the sovereignty. Usurpation is then an easy attainment, and an usurper soon found. The people themselves become the willing instruments of their own debasement and ruin."
Half of the people who just voted for "Santa Claus" probably wouldn't be able to define "usurper" to save their lives, nor recognize one when they saw one. Well, if we can't beat 'em, maybe we should join them:
You want free birth control? Okay, then give us free car insurance. Free insurance and free gasoline. Free insurance and free gas and free car repairs. Shoot, let the "rich" buy us the car, too! How about a free bed to go with the birth control, eh? Just remember one thing from history: that which becomes "free" soon becomes scarce or totally unavailable!
BY THE WAY, Webster says that "usurp" means "to seize or hold power or position" (etc.) by force OR "without legal right." [Can you say voter fraud, boys and girls? Can you say bribery and vote buying?]
P.S. We are told that Gov. Romney got three million fewer votes than John McCain did in 2008. That amounts to 60,000 fewer per state. For real? Shucks, the Palin voters would have given Romney twice that many extra votes per state if the RINOs hadn't dissed the Tea Party!
IN CONCLUSION, THE LESSONS OF THE 2012 ELECTION:
1) "Nice" guys finish last.
2) America may not even deserve a nice guy "at this point in time"!
© Curtis Dahlgren
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