New Mandate: Never Question Authority
Nick Sorrentino blogs at Against Crony Capitalism that there was a time that the Left in this country, especially, would question authority. "What happened?" he asks:
For instance, yesterday Chris Rock, once an irreverent comedian, told America to "listen" to its "Dad." By which he meant president Obama. He also said that the President was our boss.Our Boss? Listen to Dad? This is still America, right?
Don't question authority. Follow authority. Do what you are told. So what if this president has given himself the authority to assassinate US citizens. Don't question. Obey.
Daniel Henninger at the WSJ also wants to know where America's spirit of rebellion went, and calls for some "artisanal" government:
Years back, a popular notion among liberal thinkers was something called "imperial overstretch." This was the idea that America's far-flung foreign-policy commitments could bankrupt the country. Mr. Obama believes this, and before Chuck Hagel started talking the other day, he was supposed to explain it. In his State of the Union speech next Tuesday, Mr. Obama will say again that Washington, after Iraq and Afghanistan, needs to "invest" at home. But isn't the federalization of pretty much everything in a diverse country like the U.S. just another exercise in imperial overstretch?In their own lives, the men and women of the left are all about keeping things simple. Back in the '70s, they were early adopters of E.F. Schumacher's "Small Is Beautiful." Today the watchwords are "handcrafted" and "artisanal." How about some artisanal government?
I really think the republic over, or close to it. The last 12 years have been awful. The repubs are gone, but I doubt the dems will survive this stupidity. Even the russians woke up to the flaws of socialism, although it took them some time.
Stinky the Clown at February 8, 2013 7:35 AM
Reminds me of "momma's baby, daddy's maybe"...
Wyowanderer at February 8, 2013 8:13 AM
"...there was a time that the Left in this country, especially, would question authority"
The Bolsheviks also questioned authority, until they had it.
Martin at February 8, 2013 9:41 AM
"The Bolsheviks also questioned authority, until they had it."
Exactly. Don't think for a microsecond that the Left was ever opposed to authoritarianism on principle. They weren't. They were only opposed to someone besides themselves being in control of it. Anything else that they might have told you was "for domestic consumption", as they say.
Cousin Dave at February 8, 2013 10:02 AM
The ruler's motto: Conquer the world, if you can. Start with "your own" people.
Andrew_M_Garland at February 8, 2013 10:28 AM
In response to Stinky's comment: once the electorate realizes that they may vote themselves other people's monies, the game is up. We crossed that line some time ago.
Now we just have to wait for the coming crash. I'm guessing hyper-inflation, followed by riots in the streets when people can no longer afford to eat, and the government can no longer give them free stuff.
I R A Darth Aggie at February 8, 2013 10:41 AM
The problem is that when you depend on the charity of the government (or an impersonal group) what they give you can be taken away.
And then when you are the impersonal group that accepted the thirty pieces of silver from the government -- you are now beholden to them. A recent example is the Boy Scouts of America and homosexuality. Why was the change considered? Could it have been that part of it was to comply with government requirements for funding?
There needs to be a move that if it isn't in the federal Constitution of the United States, they have no stand on it.
Jim P. at February 8, 2013 10:30 PM
Obama is our boss? I seem to remember it was "we the people" who hired him for the position.
Elle at February 9, 2013 6:40 AM
Leave a comment