Public Radio was fairly breathless all day Thursday as the question "which Democrat will we support?" had been answered at last. As far as most in the media are concerned, the big political questions of 2008 are now resolved. It's time for healing and forward-looking optimism, for reaching out across our differences, working together to elect Obama (virtually a foregone conclusion) in the Fall. And the mood is contagious. All up and down the Malibu beach front broad consensus among ordinary Americans is already palpable. Change at last! Peace and safety! Graduate school, healthcare and hybrids for all! Obama!
For that tiny minority with a rudimentary understanding of the American experiment and a vague consciousness of history, G.K. Chesterton's 83 year old rejoinder is a more accurate assessment of where we may actually stand, and what sort of clouds may be on our horizon. He was addressing those who assume and trust in the notion of inevitable "progress" (Change):
If there is one fact we really can prove, from the history that we really do know, it is that despotism can be a development, often a late development and very often indeed the end of societies that have been highly democratic. A despotism may almost be defined as a tired democracy. As fatigue falls on a community, the citizens are less inclined for that eternal vigilance which has truly been called the price of liberty; and they prefer to arm only one single sentinel to watch the city while they sleep.
—The Everlasting Man: Chapter 3 The Antiquity of Civilization 1925
2 comments:
Ditto X10.
I'd be interested to know if you think Obama has a chance. It is my opinion that McCain could win without one republican vote (not counting RINO's), and in fact will have to win in this manner since has has basically ditched his base.
We are a people who want somebody to take care of us while we sleep, so we are ready to surrender our liberties to a kind and caring State and are IMO ripe for plucking. Whether Obama can survive his own minefields will be the question. If he can't, McCain (not really a conservative, as you point out) will win by default. He's liberal enough for many Dems and conservative enough for sleepy Republicans (who of course have no other choice). So he could win.
But I do think Obama can win, too. He will have an unprecedented coalition— the mainstream media will be in lock-step for him (their only dilemma was Hillary vs. Obama), and the softening and theological decay among "evangelicals" will bring him unprecedented religious support. All this in addition to the newly energized existing Dem base.
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