(My Clovis News Journal column for November 9, 2016)
Presidents don't really matter (my chosen headline)
By the time you are reading this, the presidential election will be history. Which I suppose is better than hysteria, which is what it has been for well over a year.
Perhaps there are some "electronic voting irregularities"-- this year's equivalent of "hanging chads"-- casting a shadow over the results. Many will doubt the legitimacy of the results, suspecting the election was rigged. Actually, I can guarantee it's rigged, because "abolish the office" and "keep your filthy government off my life" are never among the options offered.
Be that as it may, I already know the results of the election, because they never change: America lost; politics won.
Yet, politics only matters to the extent you believe it matters.
Presidents have never been leaders. If you believe a president is leading you, look around. A leader strikes off on a path, right into danger if necessary. You either follow of your own free will, or not. If you don't follow, there is no punishment.
Presidents are rulers who sit in safety, sending others into harm's way. Either talking them into it, or having hired goons "encourage" them to go. At gun point, if necessary. Most rulers wish to be seen as leaders.
Live your life, taking responsibility for yourself and those around you who accept your help, and you'll be fine regardless of which tyrant sits on the throne.
You can keep shopping at the same stores, pursue the same hobbies, and keep the same friends-- if you didn't let the absurdity of electoral politics drive you apart. The fact is, government will keep dreaming up new "laws" to try to limit all your choices and liberties. How much you allow their legislated opinions to affect you is totally up to you. I suggest: little to none.
Don't stress over politicians. As author Robert A. Heinlein said: “I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.”
All governments follow the same path-- toward ever more control, until their lust for control destroys them. I don't know how much longer this power-hungry government has. It doesn't matter to me. Even when the US government dies, America will go on to the extent you keep living your life by the principle of "live and let live". The future is yours, not any president's.
Right on, Kent, very 'to the point'.
ReplyDelete"...because "abolish the office" and "keep your filthy government off my life" are never among the options offered.." says a lot.
So, how do we make government offer an 'opt-out'? It is when I ponder questions such as these that eventually lead to "Kill 'em all", because it/they won't willingly offer freedom to claimed slaves.
"The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall." - Ernesto Che Guevara
How appropriate- A quote from a discredited, murdering Marxist. Like I said before, you're the perfect statist.
DeleteWhatever, the quote fits.
DeleteGo explain to voters how their actions are an integral part of a vile and evil murderous system of organization. Then watch them vote some more as to make your grand kids into serfs.
Bullies don't value peace, change, or your opinion, but only bullying you.
Your answer is to "say uncle" and ridicule the one calling for the bully's ass-beating.
Duh.