The American Descent into Madness › American Greatness

I was going to avoid this one... then I read the comments, and felt compelled to share my $.02, as little as it really "means" in any and all of "this". I am fully against the holistic movements motivated by what I can only call retribution, revenge, and retaliation. I see far too much of Lenin, Mao, Stalin, Castro, and others in their rhetoric. I'm a pragmatic man, and pragmatism favors a free market, equal opportunities-not equal outcomes, and relatively consistent morals based on some genuine (or tolerance of the) belief in a divine power. You simply cannot elevate the children and grandchildren of poverty by enforcing poverty on the children and grandchildren of privilege. That has never worked, and will never work, for the simply reason that people (as a whole) are not that "good". Believing in the futility of the so-called Utopia is as misguided as taking notes for how to shape a society from Walt Disney. Real governance is difficult, involves many compromises, and must be rooted in institutions that resist the corrosive effects of constant change.

The way I see it, every revolution (including, it would seem our own) is merely the process of replacing one power with another... often very similar (in all the ways that really matter) to the former. We ousted a king and parliament... but have ultimately generated no less "aristocratic" a ruling class of politicians. We tout the "Rule of Law", but in practice this "rule" often seems to be subjugated by graft, greed, and something becoming ever-more similar to "mob rule".

We probably have it within ourselves to "revolt" in a positive, legal, and entirely non-violent manner towards something "better" that will carry us the next three centuries... but I fear too many will insist on something different. There seem to be too many who cannot abide the notion that a free citizen is master of their own conscience. There appear to be too many who unsatisfied with choices... demand certainties. On all sides, we seem far too eager to condemn others to hell... or say "to hell" with other's most cherished beliefs... all because we are too afraid to live in a society where our happiness, fulfillment, and safety cannot be guaranteed.

We keep repeating the same analysis of the situation without finding any effective solution. Yes, I suppose that qualifies as madness. Sadly, we can't ignore the problem. It simply won't go away. We're trying, really trying to resolve the situation calmly and peacefully, but those who seek to fundamentally change America interpret our patience as weakness. They are inspired to ramp up the madness. I fear that a very Uncivil War will ensue...

Incomprehensible.