I've had a bellyful.

Not all that many years ago, when we considered ourselves to be one nation, whether under God or not, we all talked, argued, and voted for whatever candidates (plural, it's more than just a president) that we liked, and after the election, whether we voted for the winner or not, we all went back to being one country. While we may have disagreed with official policy and grumbled about it, we were one country; U.S. citizens first, everything else second. The President was Mr. President, or President So & So, not that f****** idiot. The "Loyal Opposition" may have been considered misguided by their opponents, but weren't automatically classified as, and publicly called, morons and fools. And whichever party lost, both they and their fans ALL accepted the first tenet of either a republic (which we are) or a democracy (which we are not), that whether you like the results of any given election, you honored the results of the majority opinion, accepted the "will of the people", and moved on with your lives, until the NEXT election gave you the opportunity to present YOUR views again. And if you had something to complain about, you'd darn well better have something substantial to back it up. And unless you wanted condemnation from BOTH sides, it had better be presented logically and respectfully.

Not so today. Today Hollywood bigmouths threaten to move to another country if their favorite candidate doesn't win. (None of them do. Empty threats from empty headed overaged children throwing temper tantrums.) Losers in the election, instead of trying to unite the country and move on, promise 4 more years of tantrums and screaming, in a misguided belief that loud makes right, and if they just scream loud and long enough, the fools, idiots, and morons on the other side will all come to see things THEIR way. The ONLY way. Democrats are always complaining of intolerance, and accusing Republicans, or ANY form of conservatives, of being intolerant. Yet most (not all; no large group is homogenous) conservatives play by the rules. When & where they lose, they accept it and go about their business. They don't threaten to move to Ireland or Canada, they don't scrape up absurd lies and distortions and scream about them, and they don't plan a long term rebellion, such as is common in banana republics around the world. The level of the debate seldom rises above the level of a bunch of third graders squabbling at recess.

When I was born, Harry Truman was president. Another plain-spoken commoner, with no pedigree and no impressive resume. He had been a hat salesman in Missouri. He inherited the position when Roosevelt died during WWII. Ridiculed by the snobs, he turned out to be a fairly good president, and was re-elected on his own merit. Our system is DESIGNED to not depend on any one man, even the man in the Oval Office. I've lived through 11 presidents, some good, some bad, two wars that cost us over 50,000 dead, EACH, the Cuban Missile Crisis which brought us closer to complete world annihilation and fimbulwinter than anything we're likely to see today, and a bunch of smaller skirmishes. And NONE of that threatened our country the way our own divisiveness is doing today. Great powers are generally not conquered from outside, they rot from within. And we're rotting.

We have a cultural war going on here at home. Everything that made us what we ARE today is under fire. The principles and values that made us what we are today are being ridiculed and sneered at by a bunch of crybabies that have very little foundation in reality, and no understanding of history. Our own, or anybody else's. The further we stray from those principles, the weaker we become, the less civilized we become, and the more we tear at each other, the less respect we have abroad. While you're gleefully telling us that our president is a moron, you're also telling that to both our supposed allies in Europe and elsewhere, and you're telling that to our enemies. Gives them great hope that if they hit us hard enough, long enough, we'll simply fall apart and go home. That plan worked in Viet Nam. The leading North Vietnamese general that fought us over there, in his autobiography, stated that they were losing the war, badly, and would have admitted defeat and gone home, except for the unrest here at home, and their hopes and efforts to sap our WILL. It worked. We pulled out, and the Communist "allies" of Jane Fonda and John Kerry rolled into Saigon and wallowed in a bloodbath that killed 2.5 million people over there. Our press and current historians try hard to ignore that little episode. And they ignore the very real likelihood of a similar bloody result if we abandon Iraq early, without getting rid of the real threats that THEY face.

So thank you, left-wing loudmouths. Your leaders solemnly tell us we've got to remember the lessons of Viet Nam, implying that we'll get bogged down and beaten. They don't have a CLUE what the real lessons are from Viet Nam. The real lesson is that an enemy can cozy up with the clueless disgruntled narcissist Left, get them to act as a fifth column and undermine our efforts, and win it HERE, since they're not strong enough to win it directly. They didn't learn the lessons from the first Raid over Tokyo, Normandy, or Guadalcanal, or the Inchon Reservoir either. They were too busy studying world culture, and creating "angry white men" in place of the brilliant thinkers that shaped our country, and how the rest of the world did things to pay attention to what WORKED.

No world power lasts forever. When, not if, ours comes apart, it won't be from outside forces. It will be from the rot and the squabbling within. From the loss of a moral compass, the loss of our history and our heritage, and the loss of respect for each other. I had some, although not much, hope that after this election, with a clear majority, few beefs about "stealing the election", since it was watched much more closely than any in our history, that we'd make some effort to return to trying to work together. Fat chance. Squabble on, fifth column.

 

Excellent essay, G.T. A pleasure to read.

 

Gary,
You're right on the money. I feel there's precious little we can do about it. Except lead our lives as best we can, look to the needs of others, and Pray Pray Pray.
Thanks for sharing with us. You're not alone.
Eric

PS Now go start a nice lighthearted thread so all these depressing political threads can be moved to the second page, and forgoetten about!

 

Agree. Its over. Someone won, Someone lost. Lets get on with it.

 

GT, you are brilliant.

And amazing.

Amazingly brilliant or, Brilliantly amazing, if you prefer.

Very, very good read. This needs to be seen by everyone. Thanks GT.

 

It goes without saying that I agree with you, Gary. While I may not agree with you on every single point made, the general thesis ("rotting from the inside") is an observation that has escaped me until this moment. I can say nothing to express the amount of gratitude I have now that you have brought this to my (and everyone elses) attention. Thank you.

 

As LLC said, you are brilliant G.T. Absolutely brilliant. Thanks for the read.

 

I bet you even remember when we had real statesmen instead of sleazy politicians.

 

Thanks for the insightful read, Gary.

Unfortunately, a lot of the values of self, family and society and become eroded and confused in recent decades. Too many armchair Presidents and generals and not enough genuine human beings. As you said, not everybody, but most. Those that do have an ethical system and way of life of worth are often unnoticed and uncounted.

As always, the onus remains with each individual to take an honest and sentient look at themselves, rather than simply criticizing and attacking others, without offering anything better, or in most cases, offering nothing at all.

I've tried the "if ya don't like it move out" approach sever times in my life, but the problems, as well as the good aspects of humanity tend to follow. Slightly different "flavours" so to speak, but basically the composition of societies remains the same.

I don't have any magic solutions or push-button instant remedies either. But I do believe we can all benefit by taking a close look at the values and ethics that have been tried and proven over the decades, and often over the centuries. It's not "trying to turn the clock back", but simply applying the common(?) sense axioms that one should keep what has worked in the past, and then build up and improve on that, rather than throwing out everything, and then floundering for the utopian system that never was. This only leads to inevitable disillusionment.

More positives, in every sense of the word, more family values, self esteem (not conceited) , more duty of care to others, and less counter-productive criticism and mindless decent for the sake of it is what this and every other society needs. Be analytical and critical in a sentient and constructive sense, rather than just simply bolstering egos, and defending our own pet framework for the sake of it. Scoring augmentative and puerile points over another, isn't really scoring at all, imho.

 

hehe. Some. There have always been political hacks, but it's gotten a lot worse over the years.

 

Thanks Gary, just got finished talking politics with some friends, and your post was the perfect ending to our discussion. If you don't mind, I'd like to email it to a couple of people.

 

Feel free.

I haven't yet found a way to charge for my work.

 

Well, you've earned our utmost respect

 

bump

 

I was going to add something, but decided not to ruin a good thing.

 

I have felt this way for years, just never figured a way to put it into words. Thanks for your time.

 

Second thoughts... Yes, I've seen a few that I consider statesmen over the years. In general, it's difficult in today's environment for true statesmen to get elected, since they do what they think is RIGHT instead of what's advantageous or popular. They tend to be opposed by both sides, and strongly opposed by the media. And the key is what THEY think is right, not what I think is right.

Strong, principled people have been found on both sides of the aisle. John Kennedy and Daniel Patrick Moynihan were both Democrats, and while I tend to lean the other way, both of them followed their own convictions, consistently, ethically, logically, and honestly. Reagan, and current Congressman Ron Paul also, I think. Ron Paul is Republican, but consistently bucks Republican sponsored legislation that is unconstitutional, even though that kills any chance for him to advance up the good-old-boy you-scratch-my-back-and-I'll-scratch-yours power network that spells "success" in Washington. Democrats and liberals won't agree at all, but Democrat Senator Zel Miller qualifies. He's always been a bit of a maverick who thought for himself, but after 9/11 he totally threw his party affiliation in the toilet to stand for what he saw as MUCH more important than party politics. All his old "friends" consider him a traitor.

BTW, being a statesman doesn't mean you're always RIGHT , but it does mean you're always sincere, and doing what you think is best, regardless of the outcome.

Bottom line is that statesmanship, while admirable, is not limited to any one side of the political debate. It's rare at the best of times, but there have been thinking, courageous people on both sides. Automatically assuming that ALL your opponents are all stupid and/or corrupt just because they don't agree with YOU is obscene.

 

G.T.
Well, I ploughed through it, and I too felt I'd had a bellyful. It reminded me mostly of the Nazi credo from the 1930's with the "stab in the back" from the lefties.

I notice that type of diatribe is very much the domain of the true blue right wing. Your emotional outcry, which you have every right to air, is full of carefully weighed-up phrases like:

" a bunch of crybabies , empty threats from empty headed overaged children throwing temper tantrums, left-wing loudmouths, the clueless disgruntled narcissist Left"

which, I think, shows considerable emotion, but very little reason.

I'm all for discussion, but this is not. This is unpleasant prejudiced hogwash.

It is, alas, rather the kind of thing that expects from thre USA as well.

 

(shrug) From one of the more civilized and well-behaved of the left leaning general news/information sites, http://www.slate.com/. Today's front page speaks for itself:

 

I also meant to add a quote from Aneurin Bevan, a Labour politician and statesman from the UK

"No amount of cajolery, and no attempts at ethical or social seduction, can eradicate from my heart a deep burning hatred for the Tory Party...So far as I am concerned they are lower than vermin"

 

Let me guess. You didn't vote for Bush, or wouldn't have if you don't live in the US.

 

You want them to stay?

 

I'm still waiting to find out what monastery George Soros joined.

 

Probably a very expensive one.

He's Hungarian. His roots are elsewhere anyway.

 

You can also expect us to come to the aid of anyone who asks us for help, even those who hate us and consider us the source of all evil in the world. I've also noticed that our critics don't hesitate to hold out their beggar's bowls or refuse our blood-tainted money, either.

 

G.T...seriously, thank you. I particularly needed to hear this. I did not read the rest of the thread lest it degenerate into arguing and ruin what I've taken from your brilliant post. Once again, thank you.

 

I notice you followed that with:

"No amount of cajolery, and no attempts at ethical or social seduction, can eradicate from my heart a deep burning hatred for the Tory Party...So far as I am concerned they are lower than vermin"

Seems like a carefully weighed-up phrase to me.

 

LOL. From one old fart to another... you're welcome.

This isn't quite the country we grew up in, is it?

 

No, G.T. it is not. I could kick my own butt sometimes for getting drawn into these things. I know better. I know that we hold very different opinions regarding politics, but as a whole this nation needs to pull together and agree to disagree...but get the job done. I remember the Pledge of Allegiance was an important part of school, as well as prayer. I remember learning about what being an American meant....ah, let's not get started. you know what I mean. I really do wish, at least politically, and nationally for that matter, for the "good old days".

 

Mr. Pewty,

Fair go, it IS a recognised quote.

 

Major Playin,

I've just noticed your invaluable contribution. The, alas, typical USA "ungrateful swine" response.
Whose aid have you gone to? Whose beggar's bowl have you filled? Where has your " blood-tainted money" gone?
Try asking the citizens of Bihar, for example, or the workers in Nike factories.

 

What has Australia done, besides subject the world to Paul Hogan and Jim Irwin? Perhaps your country will start paying 25% of the U.N.s operating costs? Perhaps Australian troops will take our place in Bosnia and Kosovo? Perhaps your country will stop the genocide in Dharfur (I'm assuming Australians oppose genocide, though you don't oppose racist immigration laws.)? You don't have to like all U.S. foreign policy(I don't re: Iraq), but don't pretend we do no good in the world. I have to ask, what has Australia done to improve the plight of Bihar and Nike factory workers(other than complain that we're not fixing it)? The French criticize us, but at least they are trying to stop the slaughter in the Ivory Coast region, instead of sitting on their asses and whining about the what we are not doing to stop it.

 

Its easy to hate someone, make up 'facts' to smear them and believe in those 'facts' written by strangers that pop in your inbox. The internet has made it easier. These 'facts' become the basis of most real conversations and threads out there. The media has now taken to republishing this political spam without verification, in a passive endorcement.

This campaign had one running theme - to tell you that your life is miserable, your country is going down the tubes, your future is bleak, who made it that way and that a vote for the me will make it all better like your mother's kiss on a boo-boo. All to get a vote. Unfotunately, the vote itself doesn't magically fix things and we're still smarting.

The problem we have today is it requires an extrodinary amount of effort to filter and verify what we here and see. Facts are being drowned out be rumor and inuendo.

Its too easy to hate and alot of us are lazy.

 

A good point no matter who you voted for. Thank you.