Posted on 06/23/2010 8:20:39 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
In 1861 America fought a civil war over slavery, States’ rights and economic differences between North and South. The opening shots of a second civil war were fired one hundred years later.
War began on college campuses with rebellion against academic and civil authorities. Hostages were taken, buildings occupied. There were riots and bombings. Students and police were killed and wounded. Anarchists joined civil rights activists and so-called “peace” activists in violent anti-war, anti-capitalism riots. In common was the attack on society and the Constitution in favor of an ill-defined “just” society to be created. Civil society suppressed the foul-mouthed radical students, the anarchists and the leftists but did not defeat them.
Student leaders ducked out of public sight, moved into academia, the unions, environmentalism and charitable foundations for support. There they prospered and wove virulent anti-capitalist, anti-American political philosophies into the fabric of these organizations. They gave up violence in favor of foisting their theories of social and economic “justice” on our brightest students, on our teachers and on politicians. These radicals worked quietly behind the scenes to gain control of the media, Hollywood, the schools and colleges and the Democrat Party.
Today, a majority of CEOs of big corporations and Wall Street financial institutions (Warren Buffett, Steve Jobs of Apple, Bill Gates and the leadership of Goldman-Sachs for example!) support the Progressive agenda. The election of Obama brought these radicals back into power.
The battle lines of this new war for the future of America are now drawn. On the left, leaders of the Progressive movement are wealthy, highly educated, extremely intelligent and masterful in their use of language to advance their issues. They are guided by the belief that a group of selfless, brilliant leaders using reason and logic can perfect humanity, eliminate injustice and famine and save the earth from mankind. They are ruthless in their belief that desired ends justify any means of attaining them. They believe the Constitution is outdated and flawed, needing of change. They favor more government regulation, taxation and litigation to achieve their Utopian goals.
Opposing the political left are traditionalists who believe in the relevance of the Constitution, the enduring wisdom of the Founders, smaller government, individual freedoms and individual responsibilities. Fewer, by way of comparison, are wealthy and have degrees from Ivy League colleges. But many have wisdom gleaned from dealing with realities rather than social theories. They don’t believe that any group of leaders, selfless or otherwise, is capable of making decisions wiser than citizens would make for themselves.
Most of the Progressive leaders have shunned military service considering it best suited to those of lesser intellect. They oppose strong national defense in favor of diplomacy. They disdain patriotic displays as nationalistic and misguided. They count themselves equally American and citizens of the world. Many opposing progressives are veterans proud of military service. Most are flag-waving patriots, nationalists and believers in American exceptionalism. Many own guns and willingly defend their families and their Constitutional freedoms. Most don’t believe that achieving political ends can ever justify a wrong.
The outcome of this new civil war is in doubt. If the left prevails, America will become a social welfare democracy, following the pattern of failing European states. If traditionalists prevail, America may return to the constitutional principles which it made it the most prosperous and free nation in history. The current balance of power favors the progressive left. But, history and an understanding of economics favors the traditionalists. The rising Tea Party movement suggests the balance of power may be shifting.
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William Dixon is a graduate of Columbia University, New York Medical College and the USF College of Business Administration. He was an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Georgia before entering private practice. He served 11 years in the Army as a surgeon and as a Special Forces Officer, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Dr. Dixon can be reached at Wdixon16@yahoo.com.
Much of the excessive spending also goes to programs, which are contracted to service-providers (not "employees" who receive wages). Consider state-run medical clinics, which are compensated for services provided to the children of illegal immigrants. Specialty marketing firms target Hispanic neighborhoods by providing shuttle vans for pickups, and schedule "reminder" calls for children to come in every 90-days for "checkups" on a strict schedules (they get a free lollipop when they're done - and taxpayers get the bill).
oops, sorry, it posted twice
You really despise the progressives, don’t you? So do I.
“Are they really “extremely intelligent”? I know they think they are.”
Pseudo-Intellectuals.
Like a field of grain in the approach of fall the late great USA went to seed and was harvested by locusts.
No revolution, no resurrection, just a steady creep, marked by mexican flags on cars and lawns, and boom boxes blaring out foul filthy rap from the next island over at the gas station, as we wade our walkers through the sea of junkfood wrappers and loaded diapers
and mutter to ourselves about "the good old days" of manufacturing before the moneychangers sold us out and raped us
and the last patriot youth comes back in a box from some stupid windmill chase in some godforsaken desert hellhole
partly
However, we cannot deny the effect of the sixties and seventies on the US military. Drugs were introduced to mainstream america through the military. “bennies” were the first known drugs in suburban america and they came by way of the military. The vietnam war was run horribly and the media turned average “leave it to beaver” type families against the military. The military gained a reputation for never turning anyone away and never firing anyone. Hence they attracted the least desireables of society on through to the early eighties. Public school janitors became the average young person’s first encounter with ex military personnel. By the time the military wised up and started to recruit better class of people, more selectively, it was too late. the public perception was already cast in stone. military men were advising their sons to avoid the military and go to college instead...or to trade school. Ex military personnel were such worthless drunkard layabouts they were good only for the lower rungs of the union ladders or not at all. and it wasn’t the fault of the military training ,it was the fault of the recruitment standards of the military, public perception, and government attitude towards men in uniform.
Then the first gulf war happened under the first bush. It’s been a different ball game since then. But beware...the dark days of the post vietnam era could come back very very easily. In fact I dare say that is obama’s goal and he will achieve it before he is through.
Galt’s Gulch?
http://www.LivingInThePhilippines.com
well said.
I live in Biloxi, Mississippi about a half mile from the Gulf.
You left out cowardly.
To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln - a house divided against itself cannot stand — the nation cannot endure half slave and half free.
In 1776 our founders chose freedom versus servitude to the English monarch. Between 1861 and 1865 the nation fought a war to end slavery based on skin color. Today we face another choice for or against freedom. We can submit to the will of a leviathan state led by self appointed elites (today’s nobility) or return to the principles of individual freedom. In 1776 and 1861 there could be no compromise. You rightly point out today there can be no compromise of core principles.
Conservatives must choose to make a stand for freedom or cede liberty to the state. For decades we have attempted to find the middle ground while the left has fought aggressively for without yielding or seeking moderation. As a result of us compromising we have been pulled leftward to the point we are now looking into the abyss. To avoid the flame of liberty being extinguished we must stand and say no more. There is no middle ground when someone has a loaded gun at your head. You either fight or die.
Let freedom ring, let freedom ring.
Intellect without wisdom is a fool’s playground.
!!!Deguello!!!...
There was a time when they were accurately referred to as overeducated shitheads. But no one seems to have the balls to call a spade a spade.
!!SI!!
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