What Are Elections For?

Townhall.com ^ | January 19, 2016 | Thomas Sowell

[Kaslin]

Ping

[Daniel Ramsey]

Whats a poll, is it a Polish “pole?”

[Tax-chick]

Yet it is by no means out of the question that the Republicans will manage to blow this year's opportunity and lose at the polls this November.

Sad but true, Dr. Sowell.

[Gaffer]

Voters need to consider what elections are for. Elections are not held to allow voters to vent their emotions. They are held to choose who shall hold in their hands the fate of hundreds of millions of Americans today and of generations yet unborn

I see this and think back to at least one or two articles this man wrote a year-plus ago. I remember I got pretty pissed at him because it was a basic "you gotta vote for the most electable, second most evil candidate" for the good of all. Horsesh!t. To me, this is just a backhanded way of saying vote for Jeb, or Rubio, or even Christie. As long as it isn't Cruz or Trump. He can stick it where the sun don't shine.

[Tupelo]

“The history of the 20th century provides all too many examples, whether on a small scale that led to the massacre in Jonestown in 1978 or the earlier succession of totalitarian movements that took power in Russia in 1917, Italy in 1922 and Germany a decade later. “

In my opinion this is the meat of the column. Most of us are looking for an honest leader. The biggest question in my mind is, are we looking toward a charismatic messianic leader in the same manner as 1922 Italy or 1932 Germany? Of for that matter the US in 2008 & 2012?
I hope and pray we are not.

[demshateGod]

Really disgusting what we’re seeing. Keep praying and buy ammo.

[demshateGod]

There is no doubt about it.

[Auslander154]

I have posted before the eerie ironic analogy that the next president will usher in the 100th anniversary of the Treaty of Versailles.

The Allied Powers humiliation of the Axis Powers directly led to the rise of nationalism and emergence of Hitler and Mussolini.

The Progressive movement has succeeded in humiliating America and making it look weak and helpless. Trump is stirring up a new nationalistic fervor which America needs, but can Trump harness it?

Will populism and jingoism trump conservative ideology ?
America has been so beaten down that I believe it will.

[Flavious_Maximus]

Millions of Republican voters are pissed off at the GOP establishment. They have been betrayed by their so-called leaders. This is why the voters will be electing a Washington outsider. It will be Trump or Cruz.

Mr. Sowell knows that there are no other options. Forget Bush, Rubio, Paul, Crist, Kasich. The only other outsider is Fiorina.

[mulligan]

To elect more corrupt idiots.

[mrsmith]

after the established authorities have discredited themselves and forfeited the trust of the people, the people turn elsewhere.
Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t.

I don’t expect much from Trump but what little I expect is sorely needed. In fact it’s almost exactly what Republicans promise and praise, but never deliver.

[poconopundit]

Dear Mr. Sowell,

I have actually read your Basic Economics book and from time to time have found your commentary on Town Hall reasonable.

However, very little in this current article of yours is a call to reason.

On the contrary, it is an attempt to destroy a candidate by the very rabble rousing you condemn in the piece!  

So I think, Mr. Sowell, that twilight has long past.  It's now time for you to return to your dark Ivory Tower sanctuary.   Light a cande, clear the cobwebs from your desk, dip your quill in ink, and start scribing another one of those long-winded economics books.

But please do not ever preach to Republican voters again about how to distinguish a good leader from a bad one — because no educated man or woman will find a single good argument about that in what you just wrote.

Just because Republican voters are angry doesn't mean they are stupid.   On the contrary, this election cycle they have proven very wise to detect the difference between: an experienced professional vs. a rookie; a man of character vs. a man of deceit; and a man not ashamed to show righteous anger vs. a man afraid to face the media's scorn.

How you came to utterly hate Donald Trump — a man the people love — is quite flabbergasting given your prior proven ability to think and draw good conclusions.  

And yet, your article offers not one argument why he would be a bad leader — other than he has a "charismatic" personality.

Charisma alone does not measure a man's value.   For every Hitler, there is a Churchill.   For every Barack Obama, there is a Ronald Reagan.   For every Genghis Khan there is a Jesus Christ. The height of your hatred for Donald Trump is shown in this paragraph:

The history of the 20th century provides all too many examples, whether on a small scale that led to the massacre in Jonestown [Jim Jones] in 198 or the earlier succession of totalitarian movements that took power in Russia in 1917 [Lenin], Italy in 1922 [Mussolini] and Germany [Hitler] a decade later.

For the life of me, Mr. Sowell, how can you honestly associate Trump with some of the world's most reviled dictators and nut cases?   It's outrageous — and once again, you offer not one argument in defense of this position.

Seems to me, a man like Trump who can draw thousands of supporters to his rallies two or three times a week has listened quite closely to the "opinion of others".

And when it comes to foreign policies, it's his opponents who are rattled their sabres.   Seems to me, Trump has the level-headed wisdom, strength, and restraint to manage our foreign policy very well:

• A year before 9/11, he wrote in a published book that America needs to go after Osama Bin Laden;
• He proposes to take better care of our vets and to build up our military to the point where we discourage enemies from even fighting with us;
• He has won the honest respect of the leader of Russia before even meeting him;
• He publicly opposed going into Iraq because he correctly anticipated the quagmire we would get into; and,
• He has advocated smart ideas such as taking Iraq oil and putting pressure on the people who are funding ISIS.

In one respect only you are correct, Mr. Sowell.   Trump does have "complete disregard" for the failed policies of the GOP establishment.

And that, sir, is the very reason he is winning the respect of so many angry — but highly intelligent — voters.

Sincerely...

[If You Want It Fixed - Fix It]

....to placate the ignorant masses that shucks again, they almost made a difference.....like they got a couple numbers right in the lotto drawing.....

[dfwgator]

To give the illusion of choice.

[grania]

EXCELLENT!! Did you mail your response to Mr. Sowell?

[Fresh Wind]

I’m pretty sure elections are how we make sure that our leaders have good hair.

[Norseman]

>>In my opinion this is the meat of the column. Most of us are looking for an honest leader.<<

I’m not sure that’s true right now, but it might be the end result. Dr. Carson keeps plugging along with 8-10% in most polling despite now being ignored by virtually all the pundits, the media, and the other candidates themselves.

If most of us are really looking for an “honest leader” as you say, Dr. Carson might just surprise us yet. I doubt that, but I keep watching him with interest nonetheless.

[Norseman]

>>He publicly opposed going into Iraq because he correctly anticipated the quagmire we would get into; and,
He has advocated smart ideas such as taking Iraq oil and putting pressure on the people who are funding ISIS.<<

You don’t see an inconsistency there? I’ll give you this though. That describes Trump perfectly. He says what he thinks people want to hear when they want to hear it. If what they want to hear changes, so will he.

Until he’s elected anyway. Meanwhile, keep hoping. That worked so well for us last time.

[varon]

What Are Elections For?

To enrich political consultants and advertising agencies............