Some time ago, Adlai Stevenson, the Democratic Party's quadrennial sacrificial lamb for 1952 and 1956, was praised by a fan for a particularly cogent speech. The fan gushed, "That speech, Mr. Stevenson, will earn the vote of every thinking person in America!" To which Stevenson replied, "Thank you, but I would still need a majority to win."
The year is now 2008. Have we come a long way? Sadly, no. We have a (semi-) black SNAG (Sensitive New Age Guy) and a strident Caucasian harridan attempting to kneecap one another for the privilege of carrying the Donkey's flag into November. We have a McBush for the Elephants, not sure if the Hatfields and McCoys of the Arab world are working together for the demise of the Western world, or what. Some choice. I followed the campaign of Ron Paul for a while. Didn't see much of his trusty Sancho Panza anywhere, but he looked kinda cute when it came to challenging those windmills.
No matter who wins, the Western World has to settle for the best of a bad lot, and therein lies the sadness. On an individual basis, people are wondrous, marvelous, almost miraculous creatures, capable of such leaps of faith and inspiring insights. Put three or more of them together in a room, and suddenly the average IQ matches the room temperature. In Celsius.
We are where we are today in Western Society, because of decisions made yesterday, decisions based upon what will get you elected two, four, or six years from today. Campaigns for the next election begin the second the winner is declared. Promises that make absolutely no sense, and won't be kept anyway once the books are examined, and the bills come due, are delivered by the shipload. We are expected to do our civic duty, hold our noses, and remember: BOHICA. Bend Over, Here It Comes Again.
What would happen if nobody, and I mean NOBODY, ever attended any political rallies, ever listened to any speeches, ever got out of bed to vote, ever put a penny into a campaign, what would happen?
God made the Israelites wander for forty years, until the generation that had worshipped the golden calf had died off in the desert, before Mrs. Moses could ask for directions.
Maybe we could come forward with a generation of politicians that thought, I mean, REALLY THOUGHT, about what it means to bear the responsibility of making decisions that would affect all of their fellow citizens. Forgive me if I do not hold my breath.
Democracy works. Just not here.
