10.17.2008

the consequences of '08

When Obama wins, the country really will change. If you are an Obama voter, are you really sure all of the ways it will change will be for good? A great Wall Street Journal article today spells out the consequences:
If the current polls hold, Barack Obama will win the White House on November 4 and Democrats will consolidate their Congressional majorities, probably with a filibuster-proof Senate or very close to it. Without the ability to filibuster, the Senate would become like the House, able to pass whatever the majority wants.

Though we doubt most Americans realize it, this would be one of the most profound political and ideological shifts in U.S. history. Liberals would dominate the entire government in a way they haven't since 1965, or 1933. In other words, the election would mark the restoration of the activist government that fell out of public favor in the 1970s. If the U.S. really is entering a period of unchecked left-wing ascendancy, Americans at least ought to understand what they will be getting, especially with the media cheering it all on.
They proceed to go through all the significant policy changes to come: increased taxes to support the new health care system, more regulations for the business environment, the absolute codification of abortion policy, restrictions on free speech ("Fairness doctrine") and who knows what else.

Obama is mellifluously eloquent. He has a way of answering every side of any question he's asked: he says everything that everyone could want to hear and he says it so nicely! The danger is that, because of this eloquence, no one really knows what exactly it is he is going to do as President. He stands not so much for particular policies but for a disposition, the disposition of change, which of course is subject to change itself(?). Beyond this vague and vacuous platitude, he also espouses a generally unwavering commitment to the governmental control of all aspects of our lives. Government with Obama is not limited by anything personal or private. After all, "the personal is political".

The consequences of this philosophy are two. Less freedom and with less freedom, less democracy. Democracy's difficult to sustain and tolerate anyways, seeing as how it accommodates people who disagree with you and you don't always get what you want. Change will be easier with a King.

5 comments:

Odysseus said...

I suppose the first two years it will be this way. however, I think that most Americans are still reistant to taxation and, after they raise them once, there may be a resurgence in the Republican party. Democrats controlled the White House and Congress in 1993. Like a bunch of little girls, they fought amongst themselves, got little accomplished, and the Contract with America movement was born.

Sure, if the get to 60 in the Senate, their control will be more significant but, Thank God, we have congressional elections every two years in this country.

Hope springs eternal!

Zach said...

I appreciate your optimism Rob. I hope I'm wrong.

CMinor said...

I foresee lots of complaining when the economy doesn't improve. I wonder if Obama will be the target, or if a scapegoat will be found?

Odysseus said...

-I foresee lots of complaining when the economy doesn't improve.-

Oh no, it will still be Bush's fault. Obama will be a martyr in all the liberal's eyes, suffering the broken nation left to him by his predecessor.

And they will wholly approve of all his war-like undertakings, just like liberals said nothing when Clinton bombed the crap out of Serbia.

CMinor said...

just like liberals said nothing when Clinton bombed the crap out of Serbia.
Oh, you noticed that, too?