Election Reform for a Modern World

As I watched the Republican "debate" a couple of weeks ago, shaking my head at what an absolute farce debates always are, I couldn't help but feel an impending sense of doom. I fully expect a future election to be determined in a reality show format. Aside from looking clean and apparently STD free, the contenders won't be that different than they are today. They'll be divided into teams (red and blue of course), shake hands, kiss baby's, talk crap about each other, form alliances, lie, cheat, steal, molest pages, and vote each other off the campaign RV. The last one standing is who we're stuck with for the next two, four, or six years. I think you get the idea. Mark my words, it's coming, and like our current crop of candidates "whoever wins, we lose"!

The only individual worth anything in the room was Ron Paul, but it's virtually impossible for him to communicate his message on crucial issues in one or two minute clips. In this age of professional politicians and "image management" he doesn't come off as polished and "dazzling" as some of the others. Unfortunately, on top of being addicted to the government "teat" in some form or another, most people are more concerned about the latest cast off from American Idol and what starlet plans on adopting a starving Asian child. They simply don't have the interest or time to research a candidates positions, they might fall behind on really important things.

If your fellow voters and the media were really interested in putting our country on the right track the media elites who produce these sham "debates" would give candidates enough time (and John Q. Citizen would demand it) to thoroughly explain their positions to a population mentally and morally stunted by our public education system. Alas they're not, and the madness will continue.

The Wisdom of Joe Sobran

Teach Your Children Well

In my own experience as a father, I have discovered several simple devices that can illustrate to a child's mind the principles on which the modern state deals with its citizens. You may find them helpful, too.

For example, I used to play the simple card game WAR with my son. After a while, when he thoroughly understood that the higher ranking cards beat the lower ranking ones, I created a new game I called GOVERNMENT. In this game, I was Government, and I won every trick, regardless of who had the better card. My boy soon lost interest in my new game, but I like to think it taught him a valuable lesson for later in life.

When your child is a little older, you can teach him about our tax system in a way that is easy to grasp. Offer him, say, $10 to mow the lawn. When he has mowed it and asks to be paid, withhold $5 and explain that this is income tax. Give $1 to his younger brother, and tell him that this is "fair". Also, explain that you need the other $4 yourself to cover the administrative costs of dividing the money. When he cries, tell him he is being "selfish" and "greedy". Later in life he will thank you.

Make as many rules as possible. Leave the reasons for them obscure. Enforce them arbitrarily. Accuse your child of breaking rules you have never told him about. Keep him anxious that he may be violating commands you haven't yet issued. Instill in him the feeling that rules are utterly irrational. This will prepare him for living under democratic government.

When your child has matured sufficiently to understand how the judicial system works, set a bedtime for him and then send him to bed an hour early. When he tearfully accuses you of breaking the rules, explain that you made the rules and you can interpret them in any way that seems appropriate to you, according to changing conditions. This will prepare him for the Supreme Court's concept of the U.S. Constitution as a "living document".

Promise often to take him to the movies or the zoo, and then, at the appointed hour, recline in an easy chair with a newspaper and tell him you have changed your plans. When he screams, "But you promised!", explain to him that it was a campaign promise.

Every now and then, without warning, slap your child. Then explain that this is defense. Tell him that you must be vigilant at all times to stop any potential enemy before he gets big enough to hurt you. This, too, your child will appreciate, not right at that moment, maybe, but later in life.

At times your child will naturally express discontent with your methods. He may even give voice to a petulant wish that he lived with another family. To forestall and minimize this reaction, tell him how lucky he is to be with you the most loving and indulgent parent in the world, and recount lurid stories of the cruelties of other parents. This will make him loyal to you and, later, receptive to schoolroom claims that the America of the postmodern welfare state is still the best and freest country on Earth.

This brings me to the most important child-rearing technique of all: lying. Lie to your child constantly. Teach him that words mean nothing--or rather that the meanings of words are continually "evolving", and may be tomorrow the opposite of what they are today.

Some readers may object that this is a poor way to raise a child. A few may even call it child abuse. But that's the whole point: Child abuse is the best preparation for adult life under our form of GOVERNMENT.

Whoever Wins- We Lose!

It's amusing to watch the media bleat on and on about Obama, Hillary, and McCain. As if there's really a difference in their approaches to "governance". The difference really boils down to the Democrats wanting to drive off the cliff at 100 mph, while the Republicans would prefer to take us over the edge at a "conservative" 80 mph. Of course, if you want to change drivers, stop the car and turn around, you're an extremist!

As a nation, we've strayed far and wide from the Constitutional Republic that our Founding Fathers established. The Constitution was designed to limit the power of the Federal government to a very few, defined areas. Now, the Fed's are involved in one way or another in every facet of our lives. Couple that with state, county, & city government and you're talkin' marination! The seeds of a Socialist disaster were sown long ago and now we're reaping the harvest. The question is how do we limit the amount of damage this Socialist mindset is causing?

I'm often reminded of the Biblical lesson in Proverbs; "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it". That ideal cuts both ways and I believe the problem lies in the fact that our public education system, and most institutions of "higher learning", have been marinating young minds in Statism for several generations at least. Until this situation is reversed, we'll continue riding towards the cliff in a pack of donkeys and elephants.

John Adams

I've been watching the HBO series "John Adams" the last several weeks. It's based on the book "John Adams" by David McCullough. I've never read the book (so many books, so little time) but this series is absolutely fantastic in every way. I highly recommend it.

In the way of books I've just finished "Paul Revere's Ride" by historian David Hackett Fischer. Have you ever picked up a book and not wanted to put it down? This fellow can really make history come alive. I understand his book "Washington's Crossing" is excellent as well.