Every four years or so, I hear the old refrain begin again.
The media encourages politicians to “reach across the aisle”, to reconcile between the parties, to limit their squabbling and be a happy family.
And every four years (actually much more frequently), I groan as politicians pander to one another and to Washington business as usual, further enslaving the American people.
This is what comes to mind when I read Thomas Paine’s revolutionary words in his Common Sense.
“…I am inclined to believe that all those who espouse the doctrine of reconciliation may be included within the following descriptions: Interested men, who are not to be trusted; weak men who cannot see; prejudiced men, who will not see; and a certain set of moderate men, who think better of the European world than it deserves; and this last class, by an ill-judged deliberation, will be the cause of more calamities to this continent than all the other three.”
There are four types of people who encourage the continued farce of American politicking:
- Those who have something to gain from business-as-usual
The career politician who makes a living by not making waves. The lobbyist who makes a living toadying before said politicians. The bureaucrat and the bail-out who make a living off the backs of working Americans. - Those who cannot see the direction we are pointed
The unconcerned who think little of the slavery into which they are selling their children, so wrapped up they are in their current troubles. The misled who somehow believe that government intervention in the economy is helping rather than hurting. - Those whose prejudices lead them to ignore business-as-usual
The social zealots who are so eager to see their agenda accomplished that they willfully refuse to see how the accomplishment of their agenda means the destruction of American freedom. Those who adamantly follow a party, insisting that if their party does it it must be right. - Those who embrace moderation, who think politicking can be reasoned with
I, like Paine, am most afraid of the fourth group.
These, who think they can make the Republican party, the Democratic party come to their senses. These, who think that our republic could be saved if we just all got along. These, who think that small measures can somehow stem the tide, that outreach to the other side would end in agreement.
These are the frightening ones.
These good-hearted souls mean well but underestimate the weight our nation currently stands against.
Our government is bankrupt, amassing debt at a rate of more than $1 million per minute (see the US Debt Clock). The burden of the national debt amounts to a home mortgage for every taxpayer–and continues to grow as the number of taxpayers declines (Welcome to retirement, Baby Boomers!)
Government encroaches upon more and more of our lives–from big business bail-outs to increasing government regulation of every part of our business and leisure to ill-conceived public welfare programs.
Within a generation (or less), American freedom may be little more than a footnote in history–a brief age in line with Greek democracy. Freedom in America, and perhaps around the world, will have died in slavery while moderates beg for small solutions.
We are selling ourselves into slavery (…the borrower is the slave of the lender.” Prov 22:7)
Now is no time for moderation, I say. Now is a time for drastic measures.
We must halt our spending. We must cut our spending. We cannot merely make motions towards fiscal responsibility, we must cut our losses and RUN toward fiscal responsibility.
No compromise budget will do for me. Give me something radical–something like the Tea Party Budget.
Don’t forget to take a look at Barbara H’s meme “The Week in Words”, where bloggers collect quotes they’ve read throughout the week.
