This was a watershed election. It wasn’t because the candidates were of different philosophies, it was because of the will of the people. For the first time I feel that a majority of the voters voted for the elusive dream of socialism. They voted for a world in which the government can supply all their needs simply by taxing the rich. They voted for a world in which they are no longer expected to work and pay their way. They voted for unicorns and the other guys wallet.
I came up with the phrase “The Seductive Siren of Socialism.”
If I remember my mythology correctly the Sirens were creatures that Odysseus wanted to hear so he had his crew stuff their ears and tie him to the mast. They also lived on the rocks of the rivers of Germany. The Sirens would sing and their song was so beautiful that it drew sailors toward them. It was so beautiful that the sailors would stop paying attention to sailing the ship and they would be destroyed when they ran aground on the rock.
We now have enough Americans who believe that goods and services are provided by the decree of the government instead of the risk, hard work and productivity of a free market system. They believe that we can produce clean energy simply because the government has decreed it will happen. They believe that people will continue to show up for work when their neighbor is sleeping in and living off a government issued EBT card. They believe that students will learn if we just build their self esteem enough. Their belief is in the state, even if they call themselves Christian.
Will the world end? No. Life will go on but it will simply be more dull with less options and a bleak future. I wish you could go back in time and take a trip from West Berlin into East Berlin before the wall came down. It was like Dorothy going back to Kansas. It was literally black and white instead of technicolor.
So welcome to the future. The Siren has sung. She turned out to be the fat lady. Now get back to your couch, I need to get back to work. Someone has to pay the bills.
homo unius libri
Sad but true.
ReplyDeleteAs a teacher with summers off I find it harder each year to come back to work after a tax subsidized summer. So far responsibility and upbringing have trumped observation and laziness.
ReplyDeleteGrace and peace.