The local business community cannot complain too loudly about the outcome of local political races. Sure, there were disappointments, but BIZPAC had a very good election, with only three of our endorsed candidates losing.
The federal contests, though, were not so reassuring. BIZPAC does not endorse in federal races because we can’t affect outcomes very much in those contests. Many business leaders use a victory gauge in federal races that’s often different than in local elections. Federal elections affect political ideologies and beliefs far more than county elections.
I have come to look on winners and losers in federal elections not so much as “who” won or lost, but more so on “what” wins or loses on Election Day. For me, individual candidates were less important than the issues and ideologies they champion. When viewed in that light, federal wins and losses were darkly troublesome for our nation. Some examples:
LOST: Values that made America great
Half of America rejected the foundation of beliefs, precepts and values of its founding, and the country doubled down on political types that produced the current financial crisis. The U.S. Constitution lost. And the electorate’s decisions were a quiet acceptance of the ridicule of our international friends and the growing strength of our enemies.
WON: A culture of dependence
The left succeeded in painting dependence as OK and success as something that, rather than being admired, should be the object of revenge.
LOST: Accepting personal responsibility for your own lot in life
With promises of more handouts to the “give me” crowd, threats of revenge and penalties, and pointing the finger of blame at Wall Street and millionaires, the left purchased a lot of votes. Leftists excused the failures of the individual to achieve success by blaming others, and collected votes in the process. Failures like to be told it’s not their fault. Meanwhile, self-reliance and self-determination suffered severe wounds.
WON: Class warfare
This immoral, emotional political gimmick, employed successfully by the left for generations, was trotted out again to leverage envy over untold millions of voters. Identity politics and the tyranny of the majority had a field day. To the left, “paying your fair share” means this country is still being unfair when 48 percent of the population pays no income tax, and 10 percent of earners pay 71 percent.
LOST: Personal freedom
Every new incremental boost in government power spells a decline in the freedom of individuals to choose to succeed or fail, erosion of a free republic and free enterprise, and a diminishing of personal freedom. More government power rewards those who want free stuff from government.
WON: Demonizing success
Too many election winners demonized successful individuals and wealthy people to justify confiscating from them. The left’s term for it is “social justice.” The electorate was told, “If you’ve got a business, you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.” Millionaires were made into monsters and plantation owners who needed to be slain. These kinds of lies were told to make it acceptable and moral to separate successful people from the fruit of their labors.
LOST: Hope for getting back on a winning track
As the sun set Tuesday, the future turned dim also. Wednesday morning’s light showed fiscal bankruptcy staring us in the face, and America’s vitality and leadership destiny sidetracked. Instead, we awoke Wednesday to a nation that had slipped into overdrive, accelerating toward the same fate as western Europe’s failed socialist states.
WON: Nastiness
In many cases, campaign decency lost. In many Florida races, nastiness won by default, as both sides resorted to deplorable, in-your-face, non-factual offensiveness. Too many campaigns went beyond hard-hitting facts and aggressiveness, and embraced over-the-top ruthlessness.
Last week, our country may have embarked on the river of no return. There may be no going back to what we were. And apparently that’s OK with large numbers of people. But they may be in for rude shocks when they see the health care they will be given, the size of the soda they will be allowed to drink, the obliteration of their savings and retirement accounts, and the future tab they and their children will pay the nanny state.
About John R. Smith
Loading ...
When employers start the layoffs needed because of Obamacare they need to tell the employees the real reason they are losing their jobs.
Exactly. I fear the dems will spin the job losses on republicans. Every citizen, especially the ones that voted to keep obamacare, need to see, feel, and experience the effects that this WILL cause and it is up to the individual employers to give their employees the facts about obamacare fees. We will be a part-time employee country by the end of 2013. No more republican blame game. All the voters who blindly voted for obamacare without reading/researching the effects it was going to have will be completely shocked when it takes effect.
John , your article is the best description of our losses I’ve read . It simplifies where we are today . Values that made America great lost troubles me the most . For me its sad to see were we are going . As an individual and a small business owner I will continue to fight for the way of life that our country was built on . Its another day
Thanks for so clearly pointing out what we are letting happen to us. I am ashamed that so many people do not understand what is going to happen to them with this election result. I am particularly affected as I will lose the kind of medicare that I depend on. I am going to have to pay more than $150 per month to maintain the care I have not on January 1, 2014. I hope those who voted for Obama will come to realize what they have done to themselves and others.
Great article JR. I am still amazed that the majority of Americans chose to continue on a path of unprecedented financial debt.
John, your article says it all. Between the “have’s” and “have not’s”, dependents versus independents, personal freedom versus limited &/or loss of freedom…. unfortunately the DEMOGRAPHICS have won out. It’s only going to get worse.
By 2016, I’m afraid it might be too late. I am battling within myself. One part of me wants to run and hide. The healthier part of me wants to fight for my and my country’s freedoms.
The “folks” (Obama’s favorite word) who vote for a living simply outnumbered those who work for a living. It was close this time. By the next big election, those who are feeding off the teet of the nanny state, from the public trough, in other words those who are motivated to vote for a living, will outnumber us by an even greater margin. Only if the gravy train runs dry will they begin to get the message that this can’tt go on forever. By then it might be too late.
You lost John. Your candidates lost, your philosophy lost, your bile-laced rhetoric lost and your neo-fascist view of the world lost. Accept defeat and get on with whatever it is you do.
I guess lawbear still has his head up his butt, when he loses his job, if he really works, and the welfare state resembles Greece than maybe he will wake up. It may be too late to take action.
LawBear is happy because gay marriage and legal dope smoking are the only two liberal ideas he cares about. Not bright enough to understand that socialism has never worked anywhere and will not work here either. When a nation figures out that it can vote itself all kinds of benefits and freebies it really is close to extinction. History tells us so. And those who vote for a living are the last ones to realize it. God Bless America has become God Help America.