Most people want somebody to blame for their shortcomings. In our age it is George W. Bush, lately of the 27% approval rating. Blame him for the poor economy, the unforeseen Iraqi insurgency, global warming, his accent and so forth. Because he is a Republican and says he is a conservative, I guess those groups are bad, too.
These logicians reaching such astounding and concrete conclusions tend not to be bright. H.L. Mencken did not have it wrong when he wrote “that the average citizen is half-witted, and hence not to be trusted to either his own devices or his own thoughts.”
Bi-polar politics, in this way, are a problem whereby cheap labels are slapped upon folks. Mr. Bush is a Republican, but his pocked record speaks for itself, so to call him a conservative is fatuous. Therefore, grouping conservatives, Republicans and Bushites all together as one is ridiculous.
Regardless, modern Americans, by and large, tend to put their faith in the great god of government. The faithful worshipers pay no heed to the mendacity of the prophets before them, because, as it is said, the devil is in the detail.
Madison, Hamilton and the boys of summer in 1787 Philadelphia were wise, safeguarding against this new brand of tyranny by writing our Constitution. The latter-day disregard for our founding document, however, conveys the reality that delusion is often stronger than principle.
Not only were the Framers aware, but it was the Hebrews who codified it long ago. Nolite confidere in principibus. (Put not your trust in Princes [Psalms 146:3].)
Blame Mr. Bush, but know that Mr. Obama cannot deliver us from evil any better than Mr. Bush did. To think otherwise is foolish. We are Americans–not saps–and it is high time we started acting like it again (or for once).
[Ed.--earlier version found here]
The My Oregon post is getting some feedback. It is worth checking out.