Political Ramblings

I'd like to blog a little about politics; granted, not my strong suit. I notice that, when I do this, I get no comments or discussion, which leads me to believe my little bear brain doesn't say much worth commenting on or discussing, but I want to get these thoughts out of my head.

I have been taking a blog break of sorts. I spent a little time lesson planning. I spent a little time house cleaning. I spent a little time grumbling about the election results. I mean, when you have people who have this to say about their decision-making process: (actual Facebook post) "My favorite thing about President Obama is not his politics, or foreign policy, or domestic policy, it's the fact that he's cool. He plays with his dog and he doesn't take himself too seriously. Please don't start hate message about him in my comments. I will delete them," well, there is no more hope. (And didn't he run the first time on Hope and Change?) So I moped and whined for about 5 minutes.

Then I remembered, this is what the Founders expected. They knew that, as soon as people realized they could vote themselves public money, it was all over. And it is. So we soldier on, make the best of things, and spend our time on our job, which, according to this writer, is "...not to save the nation.... Our job, now is to save each other; to help spiritually strengthen each other for all that is yet to come." THIS is the time to which all of American history has been moving. Our exceptionalism and our uniqueness will be all the more exceptional and unique in our implementation of it as our country moves in another direction. Americans have always been best at supporting the underdog, the rebel, and in shoring up those who are falling. This time it looks like it will be us.

It is encouraging to see that one party still has control of the House, even though the other has control of the Senate. Those checks and balances are important. Statistically, second-term Presidents have very little effect on things. Now, I realize, things are different, this time around. We have a society which wants to be spoonfed, wants to be coddled, wants everything to be "fair," (whatever that means) doesn't want to have to think or work or be challenged in any way. Initially, they'll get it. All will be easy-peasy and hunky-dory. Then, slowly, things will get difficult. Money will be in short supply, then luxuries, then commodities. (That means "food," for those of you who were spoonfed in high school. Please pardon the unintentional pun.) People will not realize how much this decision will hurt them until, well, it hurts them. But, as I pointed out above, there is a bit of light for which we can be thankful. And there still exists bold Americans who remember their roots and hold to their principles, who will be willing to refresh tired minds in the years to come.

I can't help but believe that, although our style of government and foreign policies will change, underneath we will still be the tough cookies who were thrown out of every decent country in the world. They regretted having done so, and have made a point of coming on over here to remake us in their image. I wonder what they will do when there is no free alternative to move to when the going gets tough in their part of the world?

Since I was about 8, and my great-aunt gifted me with a deaccessioned school copy, copyright 1905, of The Tales of King Arthur and His Knights, I have been fascinated with the stories. As I grew older, and did some studying, I learned that King Arthur existed (or not, depending on the historian) in that shadow time between the Roman Empire and the British one. A time when Rome was falling, relying on bread and circuses to keep order, and barbarians were swarming into every corner of her once proud holdings. Arthur, if he existed, was one of those who held onto the law and order of Rome, and tried to keep it for his people. If he didn't exist, the tales are told in honor of those countless thousands who did the same for their children, telling stories into the night of civilization, about love and honor and duty to the country of which they were proud. If we can't have a leader who, like Arthur, is willing to stand against the tide of entitlement and handouts, then I hope to be one of the faceless ones who continue to tell our children and grandchildren and, God willing, great-grandchildren of the exceptional greatness that was once America.