Populism Threatens Liberty In A Republic
SayUncle has a really good post today in which he observes that “We’re Not Winning”, the we being small government types. It is a long post with lots of links in it. Please check it out. I won’t take any excerpts from the post but I will highlight this comment by Uncle to somebody that mentioned democracy.
Actually, democracy seems to be the culprit. People want free stuff and politicians line up at the public trough to shovel it to them.
What a perfect intro to this post from Facing South, which explains why we are losing and why it will always be a difficult battle in a representative democracy, where everybody is granted the right to vote.
There is nothing more detestable than populism and both parties engage in it from time to time. Populism relies on things like fear, envy, hatred, and resentment. In fact, if you take a look at the Seven Deadlies, you are pretty much reading the handbook on populism.
In Political Science class, you are taught that populism means socially conservative and fiscally liberal. Although that definition oversimplifies the term, populism usually does end up being that way. The populists on the right use social issues like flag burning and gay marriage to stir up the masses. Some right wing populists join their left wing brethren in railing against free trade and the global economy. Left wing populists love to stir up class envy and racial animosity. They divide the country into what the most detestable populist of all, John Edwards, calls “two Americas”.
The end result of a stirred up and angry mob is always another power grab by the government.
Lots of people seem to believe that the right to vote is the most fundamental right of all, but if this republic crumbles and all liberty is lost, wise people will look back and realize that unlimited suffrage is what destroyed it. Knowing that unlimited suffrage is here to stay though, the only hope for liberty is an educated America. Ignorance is like putty in the hands of the populists, but educated people do not buy into that kind of manipulation. A few of them are disgustingly smart enough to engage in it, but they know better.
Another thing that will help this nation and preserve liberty is a spiritual awakening. I am not talking about religion, but spiritual growth. The more people become generally happy and joyous, and free of anger and resentment, replacing those emotions with love and tolerance, the less likely they are to be stirred up by the negative message of populism.
Update: I changed the spelling of putty, so as to satisfy my intellectual inferiors. It is quite typical that someone like R. Neal would completely avoid discussing the context of the post, and instead make fun of one word that was misspelled.
It drives me crazy that so few people vote in the first place.
[…] Glen Dean names the true enemy of our Republic: Lots of people seem to believe that the right to vote is the most fundamental right of all, but if this republic crumbles and all liberty is lost, wise people will look back and realize that unlimited suffrage is what destroyed it. Knowing that unlimited suffrage is here to stay though, the only hope for liberty is an educated America. Ignorance is like puddy in the hands of the populists, but educated people do not buy into that kind of manipulation. A few of them are disgustingly smart enough to engage in it, but they know better. Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. […]
They divide the country into what the most detestable populist of all, John Edwards, calls “two Americas”.
Do they divide the country by talking about it? Are you arguing that if nobody talked about these divisions, they would magically disappear? That seems far fetched.
the only hope for liberty is an educated America.
Which is why we need to abolish the public schools! Umm, wait…
I don’t want to abolish the public schools, but I do support choice.
Glen, are you rich, or do you aspire to be rich? Do you think about having more money, all or much of the time?
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Not rich, but extremely wealthy. I’ll take more money, just like anybody, but it isn’t that important to me. What I definitely don’t do is sit around and resent the people that have more money than me and complain about how unfair things are.
Glen, the fact that you have a license to sell real estate does not mean you are wealthy.
Seriously… is money your god?
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Are you a homeowner, Glen? Get a mortgage deduction?
Is your Federal Net Income Tax higher than 10.4%?
Didn’t think so.
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Glen:
I support choice, too. Anyone who wants to home school their kids (and can demonstrate competence in doing so) can do so, today. Anyone who wants to put their kids in private or parochial school can do so, today.
What I definitely don’t do is sit around and resent the people that have more money than me and complain about how unfair things are.
Frankly, that’s a behavior I’ve seen more in my well-off friends and family than in my not-so-well-off friends and family. I know a person who complains about how they’re “raped” by taxes and how “unfair” it all is, despite going on social security for disability reasons in their fifties, and getting health insurance for well over a decade through a state government program because no private health insurer was willing to insure them. Get rid of populist programs, as long as you don’t take away mine, I guess…
American Democratic sovereignty is held by the citizenry - “government for and by the people.” The biggest threat to American democratic sovereignty comes from within - the eroding of our Constitution, separation of powers, and rule of law.
Question:
How does America find itself in our present position - being ruled in an authoritarian manner by an extremely unpopular president with consistently low approval ratings that has abused power and ignored legislative oversight?
Answer:
By the failure of Congress to impeach Bush/Cheney for their multiple constitutional violations. The danger is that these abuses could be taken as precedent by future presidents.
The careful balance between legislative, executive and the judiciary created by the Framers has been undone, and the executive has triumphed as the paramount power - unchallenged and unchecked in seizing the right to subvert laws through excessive signing statements, ignoring oversight, checks & balances provided by basic tenets of our governement - like the Freedom of Information Act, Presidential Records Act, Congressional subpoenas, etc…
Indeed, failure to use impeachment may have its consequences. Such abuse of power is now set as precedent and will be possible for the next administration - likely to be Democrats with majorities in both houses.
I agree with Glen, education is the key, but more than that, a keen awareness of the actions of our leadership with a knowledge of our rights and a demand for transparency and accounatability in all branches of government.
As the father of modern conservatism said
JP, that link was to a blog post, dumbass. In that post I wrote,
I have no idea why are you are asking me if money is my god, or how such a stupid question is pertinent to this post. Please elaborate, because like other times, you aren’t making any sense. Tell me what a personally insulting question like that has to do with this post?
Glen, you’re a wingnut?
http://www.knoxviews.com/node/7220
that link was to a blog post
Yes; I know. I ignored it so I could talk past you, like you do me on illegal warrantless wiretapping, et al.
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Populism threatens liberty? Then the answer must be fascism!! Thank you Jonah Goldberg! Liberals win either way! Yay!!!!
It’s always good to be linked to by R. Neal, a perfect example of the problem. I knew this post would get that type all riled up. Philosophical discussions are a little difficult for people like him. Emotion is much easier.
SB, are fascists not elected?
[…] Dean has critiqued “populism” in a post at TenneseeFree.com (”Populism threatens liberty in a republic”). One passage that stood out to me was this […]
are fascists not elected?
Often by activist judges!
.
[…] that Obama is not “one of us”. It is in fact, a good example of what I talked about in this post. I understand where Mack is coming from, and can only assume that a principled “racist […]
Glen, you’re a wingnut?
I didn’t realize this was ever in question…
I ought to leave the change the heading to Wingnuts and Moonbats.
[…] agree with Aunt B on this. Speaking of populism, one of the biggest lies told in this country is that illegal aliens are taking American jobs. We […]