Over the past couple months, I have pondered this piece a dozen times and written at least a dozen copies.
In 1849, Henry David Thoreau published “Resistance to Civil Government”, which later became known as “Civil Disobedience”.
Infamously, Thoreau said:
I HEARTILY ACCEPT the motto,—”That government is best which governs least”; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which also I believe,—”That government is best which governs not at all”; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have. Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient.
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Over the years, this essay has framed my views and expectations of government. Recently, events have opened the door for concern.
Yes, I admit and realize that there some good things happening. The economy is stable. The stock market is up. Inflation is steady. Iraq may be turning a corner. Unemployment is down.
However, these positives should not overshadow or be used as cover. There many reasons to doubt the current Presidential and Congressional leadership. I can quickly name a handful issues, that have all been on the front pages within the past couple of months:
- The FEMA fiasco headed by chief crony “Brownie”
- The recent GOP headaches of DeLay and Frist – watching the “Hammer” fall from grace
- The meandering of Senator soliloquies during the Chief Justice Roberts confirmation in which, not one Senator was in the same league.
- The Harriet Miers debacle and the prolonged wait for withdrawal
- The resignation of I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby and a painful exposure of internal power
- Unrestrained spending and some Republican Senators putting up a fight
Each of these, in its own right, should raise the anxiety level of each American. In total, any American that is not disturbed, frustrated or lost in a land of confusion, must either be numb or not paying attention. These are not minor mistakes. Unfortunately, they clearly represent a recent pattern. There is room for concern.
Each American, Democrat or Republican, this writer included, drank the Kool-Aid. Bought into the vision. It pains me to say, the American public has willingly been led down the path lined with hope, promise and a few honest nuggets of success. While we have not reached the end of this Administration’s journey, one starts to wonder if fools-gold is our prize.
I am still holding out hope this Administration will turn things around. I still believe the wrongs inflicted will be healed. However, we cannot allow the continued “head-in-the-sand” syndrome, by our friends and neighbors; our fellow Americans.
Abraham Lincoln once said:
Elections belong to the people. It is their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.
2008 is not that far away. 2006 is even closer. The tough lessons we have learned need to translate into electing men and women who will avoid the political traps and do what is right for the people of our fine country.