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Maynard seeks sense where there is none

I’m writing less about politics these days because, frankly, the political dysfunction is too obvious to dwell upon. It’s an insult to your intelligence to hold forth on how Washington is controlled by liars and fools and scoundrels; it’s like announcing the sky is blue. The Washington elite no longer even bother to pretend there’s any reason or decency to what they’re doing. They just mouth a few ridiculous rationalizations to fill the void, and nobody believes a word of it.

I sound like a naïve fool if I indignantly declare, “Our leaders are lying to us.” Yeah, of course they’re lying. They’re politicians! That’s what politicians do! What are you, Maynard, some kind of moron?

Okay, so I shouldn’t dwell on the obvious. But with the world going to hell in a handbasket, where does that leave us? Does Washington expect us to lie back and think of England? That seems a bit much to ask.

I don’t know how to proceed. But I can try to illuminate the fundamental points.

There’s a way we do things in America. We’ve got rules and structures. This is why we’re a politically stable nation; why our democratic structures have deep roots. Because we don’t make up the rules as we go along. The people believe that government isn’t entirely corrupt; we believe government responds to the people and gives us some service. Our system has been creaky, but it’s worked and it’s a known quantity. That’s not a bad arrangement by real-world standards.

The original American government under the Articles of Confederation was inadequate. The Constitution, in 1787, was our second national government. We’ve moved forward successfully under this structure, with the exception of the Civil War, where we shot each other.

You remember in Star Wars how characters keep telling each other to “trust your feelings”? Well, that’s a load of garbage! I don’t trust my feelings! Sure, I listen to my feelings. I contemplate my feelings. But I don’t trust my feelings.

Feelings lie! Feelings lead you astray. Feelings are yours alone, and can really never be shared.

That’s why we need a common structure. A nation. A Constitution. Something that is objectively defined and not squishy and touchy-feely.

Our Constitution is imperfect. In its inception, it embraced slavery. That’s why the Dred Scott decision acknowledged slaves as property: Because, under the Constitution, slaves were property. To change that, you had to change the Constitution.

Do I sound harsh, or even evil? Sorry, but that’s the way it’s done. If we don’t operate within the framework, then there are no rules. There’s only anarchy. You may argue that it was proper to abandon the structure for the purpose of abolishing slavery; otherwise we’re no better than Nazis who gave the excuse of “I was only following orders.” Yes, extreme times call for extreme deeds. However, think carefully before you reach for your “nuclear option”. You make it all that much easier for the next guy to do it again. Today we abolish slavery by mere creative interpretation of the Constitution; tomorrow someone else will follow the same path to abolish property. When we abandon the framework, we’re on that slippery slope that leads to us shooting each other.

The Civil War came when an abolitionist was elected president. The South, recognizing that the days of American slavery were numbered, bolted from the Union. Lincoln was an abolitionist, but he was also a patriot and a politician. He saw his first duty was to preserve the United States. By firing the first shots at Fort Sumter, the South invited a military solution to the dispute. The rest is history, and it’s very bloody. America lost almost as many people in the Civil War as all the rest of our wars put together.

Slavery was coming to an end, one way or another. Sometimes I wonder if it could have been allowed to perish with a whimper, rather than a bang. Is it possible that slavery might have died a natural death over the next generation, and saved half a million Americans from being butchered? Would such a deal, if it were possible, have been the best path? But maybe this line of speculation is unrealistic. Maybe it couldn’t end until we killed each other. I don’t know.

In the midst of the war, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. It freed the slaves in the rebellious states. This was technically a point of military strategy, for the purpose of depriving the South of their labor resource.

To abolish slavery in the United States required an amendment to the Constitution, the Thirteen Amendment. There was no other way.

Lincoln was an abolitionist, but he worked within the American framework. Although it’s worth mentioning that, for the purpose of prosecuting the war, he was capable of a bit of cheating. He imprisoned high Maryland officials who were advocates of secession (Maryland was one of the four slaveholding states which did not secede). He ignored court orders to free them. In justifying his illegal actions, Lincoln asked the rhetorical question: “Are all the laws, but one, to go unexecuted, and the government itself go to pieces, lest that one be violated?” (A comment which remains relevant as we struggle with the legal rights of foreign terrorists.) Would you argue with Lincoln on this point? It was a time of war, and the fate of the nation was precarious. (See Wiki for legal details.)

But the rules are not to be readily discarded; certainly not in time of peace. The original income tax was tossed out by the courts; we needed the Sixteenth Amendment before the tax could legally be levied. Likewise, Prohibition could not be enacted without the Eighteenth Amendment.

It seems that with FDR’s New Deal, the expansion of government powers no longer required that the Constitution be amended. Early in FDR’s term, the Supreme Court rejected the new laws. (See Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States.) But FDR threatened to pack the Court, and the Justices fell into place.

The days of the Depression were difficult. Maybe it’s not appropriate for me to second-guess the decisions of the day. But I lament that some hideous precedents were set.

We’re hearing how Obama and Reid and Pelosi are plotting their health control “nuclear option”. This is an entirely new thing. As we’ve discussed before, it’s a huge change of rules to be made for the purpose of ramming unwanted legislation down America’s throat. This is not the way things have ever been done in Washington.

In a sane and decent world, Democrats would hesitate at this point. Actions have consequences. If you make up new rules to get your way, then why should the other guy play by the rules? How can we remain a cohesive nation if we throw out the rulebook?

Is this health control bill a wartime scenario? Does it justify the destruction of an American lawmaking tradition?

The entire last year has been a surreal adventure. Most Americans perceive the great issues of the day to be global Islamic terrorism and the flailing economy. But Washington, after enacting a brain-dead and ineffective “stimulus” package, spent the year focused on carbon dioxide and health control. We’ve facing the two real crises, but instead President Obama has devoted himself to battling these two artificial crises. Sure, health care is a real issue…but is it the problem of the moment? Seems to any rational person that health care isn’t what we need to go crazy on. Why the insane obsession, especially when faced with a bleeding America?

This debate is no longer about health care. It’s about Obama. And not embarrassing Obama. If not for that factor, Congress would have quietly backtracked from this failed abortion months ago. But Obama insisted that Congress put it all on the line. With Pelosi and Reid in his pocket, the Democrats in Congress (probably against the better judgment of many) went along.

I believe Obama is mentally ill. I say this clinically, rather than as a pejorative. He’s obsessed with his ideology of control, to the exclusion of all else.

We’ve all got our quirks. Obama’s quirks are obvious enough. The part I don’t understand is why the Democrats of Congress are still going along with Obama. I keep thinking that at some point they’re going to break with him, and some coalition closer to the political center will form.

When the House passed its first version of health control, Michael Steele commented on the Democrat’s cheer: “They are applauding themselves out of office.” And I groaned inwardly. The fate of the nation is in peril, and the RNC chairman is looking for an opportunity to gain power. He gloats because the Democrats have done a horrible thing to America, and this will work to his advantage. Doesn’t anyone think first and foremost about the survival of the United States? Is it all just a big game to these people?

Does America still exist? Or are we just a collection of squabbling children, beating each other into submission until we’re all dead? There’s no longer a national interest; there’s only my gang against your gang.

I try not to despise all Democrats, and I certainly don’t love Republicans. I want to leave open the possibility that someone out there, of any party, will stand for America and fight for America. And that someone, whoever he or she may be, is welcome to call upon me to sacrifice my life, my fortune, my sacred honor.

I’m here. I try to do my part, to the extent that God gave me the wisdom to discern it. But it seems our earthly authority has turned against us, and we have been left alone. Alone without rules.

With a heavy heart, I arm myself and prepare to stand against whatever may come. Given the scenario that has been created, the people must be ready for the worst.

Historians will eventually be asking this question: Why, in 2009, did Washington declare war on America? We know what the Civil War was about, and we sense that maybe it was unavoidable. But what is this all about? Do we really have to do this thing?

Have I said anything that isn’t obvious?

Is anyone listening who can make a difference? Or is everyone too busy shouting?

Will we soon be shooting each other?

I’m not patient by nature. I want to know the answers to these questions right now. But life is never that simple. Seems I’m going to have to wait.