As IF Times

In case no one has noticed, politics is big business. But it wasn’t always this way. Before the big change in 1776, the world was run pretty much the way it’s always been run. Small groups of rulers and oligarchs made the laws and everyone just went along with the edicts from on high. They could pretty much do as they wished to make themselves and their families comfortable.  Their fortunes were dependant on the masses paying taxes to support their lifestyles.  Failure to comply with official edicts meant that you would be visited by humorless enforcers of the realm and all sorts of unpleasant things would happen to you and your family.

This worked pretty well for the ruling classes for centuries, until some breakaway pilgrims in the lands of the new world, which would eventually become America, expressed dissatisfaction with the way things were run and decided to band together and revolt against the overlords in England.  As you’d expect, the Brits, at the time the most powerful military force in the world, dispatched some troops to quell the knaves who dared to protest their rule.

This didn’t end well for the Brits, as the upstart colonies beat back the world’s mightiest military force and the ensuing war founded the first democracy styled nation in history. Why did the Americans win?  In my opinion, it was not only to protect their families but more importantly to protect a principle; that men should have a say in how laws govern them.  The soldiers of England were just hired conscripts who just did as they were ordered.

Thus began the new tradition of nations that were created to be governed by people who represented the interests of their constituency rather than by regal decree. In the beginning, these positions were voluntary and hence the label of ‘honorable’ was conferred upon such representatives, since no pay was involved.  How quaint.

Fast forward several hundred years and the model of representative government became more and more widespread as the powers of existing monarchies and kingdoms declined.  To this day, some form of representative government is seen as the type most favored in what are considered to be free nations.  We know this because there is a constant influx of people trying to get into these nations from those that are more authoritarian.

A funny thing happened on the way to democracy though.  As nations became wealthier and populations grew, so did the size of the institutions required to manage the affairs of the state.  As people became wealthier, their immediate existential needs fell to the background and thus there was less urgency to have responsible representation.  Gradually, political office transformed from being a responsible civic service, to becoming a viable vocation in and of itself.  People with no real life skills were able to get into political office to make decisions that adversely affected possibly millions of constituents, even as fewer and fewer people bothered to vote. There are countless examples of such individuals in the world today, but in the US, people such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Cortez come to mind.

The other aspect which aids in the corruption of the political process is the professional politician’s powerful tool of choice: polls.  Apart from hyperbole, polls are the most important tool in the arsenal of modern politicians.  Regardless of the politician’s actual position on a topic, the tool by which they get elected, is always polls.  Thus, their fortunes are guided by what the pollsters reveal from the public on any given issue.  The classic situation is the famous John Kerry line about “…“I actually did vote for the $87 Billion before I voted against it…” Thus they simply tack against whichever way the winds of social opinion blows.  It’s not well known that the expression, ‘flip flop’, was coined in honor of Kerry.  Possibly the only person in recent experience who presented policy without regard to polls, is Donald Trump.  Otherwise, virtually all politicians will measure public opinion before stating a position.

But the main objective of poll usage is to get into office.  Once in office, it’s clear sailing because they would generally be free to do whatever they wanted for their term. Suddenly their views of what’s appropriate for the populace overrides anything they may have said to get elected.  It’s as if you ordered a rib eye steak at a restaurant but they served you quinoa and goat bladder instead; because according to their views, it’s better for you.  Deal with it.

Far gone are the days of dutiful public service.  Politics is now a legitimate career choice with paid compensation well above real work in the private sector.  Not only are they paid well, they can vote themselves increases at will and can live in palatial homes paid for by the public.   They can do pretty much what they want to make themselves and their colleagues comfortable.  Edicts and laws are passed regardless of the impact on their subjects.  Failure to comply with official edicts meant that you would be visited by humorless enforcers of the realm and all sorts of unpleasant things would happen to you and your family.

Why does that sound familiar?

Source: Dem senator: King’s ‘racist’ talk has ‘consequences’ | TheHill

Of course it’s racism; what isn’t these days?  It’s quizzical that the racism that is allegedly espoused by the Iowa Congressman hasn’t deterred immigration applicants to the US.  For example, we don’t see that prospective immigrants are instead choosing to enter China, Saudi Arabia, or Pakistan as alternate potential homelands.

The worst racism over the past few generations has unquestionably been propagated by the self proclaimed progressives.  That comes in the guise of diminished expectations, the worst kind of racism.  The most glaring instance of this is the pervasive application of the Orwellian labeled “affirmative action”, which in reality allows people to be graded on a curve as if in a class of slow learners in school.

The obvious consequence of this are a vast group of people who have been conferred with educational creds which are of spurious value. The entire concept of this is illogical when applied to everyday life.  We don’t accept inferior goods when shopping for things. Who would accept a plate of sardines at a restaurant if they ordered sole, because, well,  it was close enough?  We don’t award Olympic medals to people because they tried hard.  Somehow, when it comes to race issues, a putt that figuratively falls within the 10 foot circle is a gimme.

The on going and fallacious argument regarding immigrants and immigration are pushing forth the same racist tenets of diminished expectations.  Rather than encourage that newcomers have at the very minimum, an acceptance of a new culture, the adoptive society is expected to acquiesce to the dictates and standards of the newcomers.  This was not the intention of the original concept of America taking in the “huddled masses and those yearning to breathe free”.  Unfortunately, that credo has been transmogrified to, taking in “the demanding masses yearning to live for free.”

Presumably, the new culture is worth coming to.  It was in the past. Immigrants came to the US for opportunity and it was accepted that to be a part of the great nation was an aspiration and an achievement, not an entitlement.  In the natural world, new animals adopt to the herd.  When a player gets traded to another team, he doesn’t carry the ball for his old one.  It’s not racism to expect that new immigrants at the very least, want to be Americans.

Nobody has an issue with immigration, since the strength of America is directly tied to its centuries old tradition of bringing in aspiring people. Come one, come all.  Just don’t bring your baggage.