Volume 7, Issue 4
Further, the classic question ‘is the country on the right or wrong track’ generated an expected response: 65% wrong track, 28% right track, with the rest undecided. This public attitudinal analysis was also cited as further evidence that the public is thoroughly upset with the President. The President does get his share of the blame, but the public is totally fed up with both parties.
When queried on why one felt the country is on the wrong track, the most often given reason was, “Tired of the chaos and dysfunction. Fix the problem. Do your job. Find common ground.” These were the exhortations of the citizens directed toward their elected officials. Specific policy positions were not the impulse response. Border security in general was mentioned less, but much more often than The Wall.
What is really the basis of citizen frustration?
Citizens feel their dreams are being destroyed, impeded, or put on hold. Dreams are personal to one’s personality, inherent in the hope of possibility. The contemplation of pursuit of a dream, once manifested spiritually, is visceral. Hope codified in visionary dreaming is as basic to human nature as survival. Only Homo sapiens dream in the context of action steps to progress to a better future for themselves and their families.
When we were children, the future was a blank page upon which to draw a picture of happiness. As young adults, people learn to combine personal dreams with relationships. As elder citizens, we learn to reflect on dreams pursued and the foundation of dreams yet realized.
Younger liberal voters do not see government as the ultimate solution. Yet they want the government to mandate economic security. Younger conservative voters demand more freedom of choice, yet they want government standards of fairness. Curiously, economic security and freedom of choice can be argued to be the same political ideology, just stated differently from a different philosophical premise.
This American dichotomy is a paradoxical political agreement based on the fact that human hope is basic in purpose to human nature, and composite in vision.
Intellectual elitists now challenge the principle that American democracy is the best form of government for the rendering of righteous opportunity and distribution of wealth. They now openly argue that the wealth of the rich should be confiscated by the government and redistributed to the public. This statement was actually made, without contest, on an ABC News program last weekend. Of course, no thought or consideration was given on how the government would accomplish this or, in fact, what would be the formula for fairness for all concerned. Any such policy, in and of itself, is a basic definition of socialism.
Throughout world history, societies have struggled with this conundrum of economic power and societal class conflicts. The doctrine of freedom, pursuit of happiness as a right, and free enterprise did not enter the picture of human history until the founding of the United States of America. The answer given to eternal class struggles by our country was freedom, managed by a government of the people, wherein all power and authority rested with the governed. Kings, totalitarians, and socialistic governments, disguised as republics, were to be no more the prevailing government structure.
Prior to the founding of America, the public was suspect of the opportunity to realize their dreams. Freedom from government became the rallying cry. In 1776, freedom was declared in America’s Declaration of Independence. In 1789, freedom was codified in the Constitution of the United States. In 1860, through Civil War, a national recommitment was made to freedom. In 1940 in World War II, freedom was defended against all threats, foreign and domestic. In 1964 by the Civil Rights Act, freedom was extended and honored in purpose.
In 2000, the presidential election was questioned as to its authenticity of truly representing freedom in America. The discourse, distrust, acrimony, and anger in our country has continued and escalated up to and through the elections of 2016. Many Americans are now again suspect of the opportunity to realize their dreams.
As difficult as it is to face chaos and confusion present in everyday life, it is critical to keep in perspective the one single lesson of human history.
Freedom is essential, foundational, and spiritually required in the personal realizations of dreams. Socialism has never produced the reality of hope manifested by a dream.
Once upon a time, there was a dream. Pause, reflect, and remember the personal dream, sometime in your life, generated by the natural instinct of your human nature. Revisit the hope foundational to your personal identity.
Coming in the 2020 election cycle are arguments for more government control as the best idea for universal opportunity. Candidates will disingenuously exacerbate the suspicion of democracy. Measure and screen such policy proposals against the lessons of history.
Never yield to any force, governmentally or socially, that restricts the energy to fulfill your dreams.
Never give up on freedom.
My name is Marc Nuttle and this is what I believe.
What do you believe?