It's not uncommon for petty little states to be rocked with scandal.
It's not uncommon for petty little tyrants to shift the blame and sacrifice others in order to protect themselves.
It's not uncommon for good men to be sacrificed on the altars of "great men's" vanity.
But, of course, none of that is happening here (wink wink, nudge nuge)...
How is it that I've heard more about David Petraeus' affair than I have about the murder of four Americans in Benghazi, Libya?
What a cruel smoke-screen!
That's not the America I remember!
Welcome to Barackistan.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Well, it's official.
As of November 6th, 2012, I am no longer a citizen of the United States of America.
Instead I'm living in the Socialist Republic of Barackistan.
As with many others, I mourn the loss of our great Republic.
As an historian, and political scientist, I recognize the value of records kept in changing societies, so I am setting out to provide one.
First, I need to mourn.
You see, I grew up under a certain set of assumptions: that opportunity in the United States is virtually endless; that hard work pays off; that it's your responsibility and your opportunity - but it depends on you to decide which it is; that I should be willing to help all people, but I can only help from my own position of security; that freedom is an ultimate privilege, and responsibility; that no leader deserves my absolute allegiance - I reserve that for the principles recorded in the Constitution; that all human beings are created equal, and deserving of equal treatment before the law; that I can figure out my own happiness better than the government (or anyone else) can.
Most of all, I assumed that everyone around me believed this, too.
November 6th showed me that I was wrong. There seems to be a new set of assumptions at work in Barackistan: that opportunity has ended; that it's someone else's responsibility; that everyone should be willing to help me; that we are dependent on government; that freedom is too risky, but license is necessary; that leaders - other humans - are the new messiahs.
It is hard to accept this change.
Not to be too negative, but I think it important to do this up front: "I told you so."
Some day, people will look back and see that, unchecked, the following have occured:
- economic conditions will not improve - they will wobble and limp along
- rights will come under increasing threat - from the 2nd amendment to the separation of Church and State, we will see the greater imposition of Governmental control on our individual "pursuit of happiness"
- scandal will continue to rock the administration
- the fourth branch of government will continue to be derelict in its duty
- businesses will reduce, decline, lay-off, and simply close
- while our "Rome" burns, many will run off to play with Nero's fiddle
- terrorist attacks will be resurgent
There's more, but that's enough for now.
Of course, it needn't happen. It does not have to happen. Citizens of the former Republic: enough pressure, enough communication to elected leaders, enough involvement could stave off the worst, and, perhaps, in 2014, a change could be enacted.
As it is, I fear that, in the next few years, we will see too few Socrates, too many Alcibiades, and that the cleverness of our leaders will be revealed as the equal of Pericles.
Socrates
Alcibiades
Pericles
After all, the Peloponnesian War wasn't that bad for Athens (ahem). Maybe the next four years won't be all that bad...
As of November 6th, 2012, I am no longer a citizen of the United States of America.
Instead I'm living in the Socialist Republic of Barackistan.
As with many others, I mourn the loss of our great Republic.
As an historian, and political scientist, I recognize the value of records kept in changing societies, so I am setting out to provide one.
First, I need to mourn.
You see, I grew up under a certain set of assumptions: that opportunity in the United States is virtually endless; that hard work pays off; that it's your responsibility and your opportunity - but it depends on you to decide which it is; that I should be willing to help all people, but I can only help from my own position of security; that freedom is an ultimate privilege, and responsibility; that no leader deserves my absolute allegiance - I reserve that for the principles recorded in the Constitution; that all human beings are created equal, and deserving of equal treatment before the law; that I can figure out my own happiness better than the government (or anyone else) can.
Most of all, I assumed that everyone around me believed this, too.
November 6th showed me that I was wrong. There seems to be a new set of assumptions at work in Barackistan: that opportunity has ended; that it's someone else's responsibility; that everyone should be willing to help me; that we are dependent on government; that freedom is too risky, but license is necessary; that leaders - other humans - are the new messiahs.
It is hard to accept this change.
Not to be too negative, but I think it important to do this up front: "I told you so."
Some day, people will look back and see that, unchecked, the following have occured:
- economic conditions will not improve - they will wobble and limp along
- rights will come under increasing threat - from the 2nd amendment to the separation of Church and State, we will see the greater imposition of Governmental control on our individual "pursuit of happiness"
- scandal will continue to rock the administration
- the fourth branch of government will continue to be derelict in its duty
- businesses will reduce, decline, lay-off, and simply close
- while our "Rome" burns, many will run off to play with Nero's fiddle
- terrorist attacks will be resurgent
There's more, but that's enough for now.
Of course, it needn't happen. It does not have to happen. Citizens of the former Republic: enough pressure, enough communication to elected leaders, enough involvement could stave off the worst, and, perhaps, in 2014, a change could be enacted.
As it is, I fear that, in the next few years, we will see too few Socrates, too many Alcibiades, and that the cleverness of our leaders will be revealed as the equal of Pericles.
Socrates
Alcibiades
Pericles
After all, the Peloponnesian War wasn't that bad for Athens (ahem). Maybe the next four years won't be all that bad...
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