If you can keep it
By William Bailey (11/03/08)
In 1787, shortly after the close of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, a woman interested in the proceedings approached Benjamin Franklin. “Well, doctor,” she asked, “what have we got, a republic or a monarchy ?” The venerable champion of American liberty replied, “A republic madame, if you can keep it.”
If we had to report to Dr. Franklin how we’ve done in “keeping it”, I’m afraid that we’d have to report that we haven’t done a very good job.
Beginning in the ‘60’s, we started in a direction left of center. A direction that, if continued, could do nothing but bring us to where we are today . . . on the verge of taking another giant step toward socialism. Remember the ‘60’s ? That’s when we started the approach of “if it feels good do it”; “if you don’t like the law, don’t obey it”; the death of the recognition of personal responsibility . . . somebody else was always to blame. And, unfortunately, not only have we allowed it to continue, we’ve done nothing to slow it down. Thus, on Tuesday, November 4, 2008, we will make a major decision in this country. Whether we will try to get back on the highway that gives us our republic or whether we will continue the march toward finalizing socialism in this country.
While the ballot won’t be quite that open and specific and while we will be voting for specific candidates, that’s really the issue for which we will be voting.
The real sad thing is to realize how many voters will mark their ballots without having acquired the facts about any of the candidates. I know, facts are worrisome and bothersome little things. Almost like mosquitoes on a summer evening . . . but, you can’t get away from them. They’re always there. The only thing to be determined is whether we want to pay any attention to them.
Too many voters will follow the, “don’t confuse me with facts, my mind’s made up”; or, as Johnathan Swift put it in Polite Conversation,”There is none so blind as they that won’t see.” Or, if you prefer biblical reference to this issue: “Therefore I speak to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. (Matthew 13:13). Or from the Old Testament, “Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears and hear not”. (Jeremiah 5:21).
One of the bothersome facts that keeps rearing its head is the one called “redistribution of wealth”. This is just a way of restating another philosophy from another time and another source . . . “from each according to ability to each according to need”. If you don’t know the source, suggest you check any of the available internet references. You may be a little surprised. But, the real surprise comes when you realize that one of the candidates for President of the United States of America is speaking in those terms. And yet, voters will cast their ballots for this person. How about this quote, “It’s not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they’ve got a chance for success too. My attitude is that if the economy’s good for folks from the bottom up, it’s gonna’ good for everybody. I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.” (Obama answer to “Joe, the plumber”). Whatever happened to the concept in this country that if you worked hard and obeyed the laws, you could be successful without detriment to anybody else ? “Don’t confuse me with facts, my mind’s made up”.
Oh, and while the subject of wealth is out there, there has been no logical explanation of how one of the candidates plans on cutting taxes for 95% of Americans when 44% pay no taxes. How do you cut something that isn’t there ? “Don’t confuse me with facts, my mind’s made up”.
And, what about this focus on “change” ? I have commented before that not all change provides positive results. “The magic word ‘change’ makes specifics unnecessary. If things are going bad, some think that what is needed is blank-check ‘change’.” “But history shows any number of countries in crisis worse than ours, where ‘change’ turned problems into catastrophes.” “Yet many today seem to assume that if things are bad,’ change’ will make them better. Specifics don’t interest them nearly as much as inspiring rhetoric and a confident style. But many 20th-century leaders with inspiring rhetoric and great self-confidence led their followers or their countries into utter disasters.” (Thomas Sowell, ”Believers in Barack”; National Review Online, 10/22/08). “Don’t confuse me with facts, my mind’s made up”.
Resonance and rhetoric has never and will never replace responsibility and respect. And, it won’t happen this time either.
So, as you speak with voters between now and Tuesday, ask them “WHY” they are voting the way they are. The answers should be interesting.
In conclusion, John Adams, the first president to ever reside in the White House (the People’s house) wrote a letter to his wife, Abigail, in which he composed a beautiful prayer, it reads “I pray Heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.” (emphasis added)
“A republic, madame . . . if you can keep it”.
William D. Bailey
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