It’s the Benefits, Stupid!
By Robert Ringer
As the poll numbers for the Duplicitous Despot have finally begun to slip a bit, conservative smiles are cautiously surfacing. Could it be that the walking dead (read, “centrists”) are starting to realize that 2 + 2 actually equals 5, not 4?
Not so fast. Optimism is a good thing, but realism is even better. There are a number of obstacles that still have to be overcome before liberty lovers can begin celebrating a return to our once-cherished state of semi-freedom.
Obstacle No. 1: The straight-faced deviousness of the Duplicitous Despot. Most politicians will say anything, anytime, anywhere to gain or hold office. Nothing new in that. But few qualify for the major leagues — like, say, Barney, Chris, Nancy, Harry, and other well-known congressional scoundrels. And none are in a class with the Duplicitous Despot.
Right out of the Saul Alinsky, Vladimir Lenin playbooks, he has demonstrated a remarkable skill for not only reversing his position on myriad issues (GITMO, taxes, the Iran protests, etc.), but convincing people that no such reversals have occurred. All switcheroos are simply misunderstandings on the part of the confused proletariat. The Duplicitous Despot never lies, steals, cheats, or deceives — and he is never wrong.
Bottom line: Do not underestimate the Duplicitous Despot when it comes to smooth-talking the walking dead into believing that any deceit on his part is but a hallucination on their part. Unfortunately, If the walking dead continue their march down the Duplicitous Despot’s road to serfdom, they will drag you and I along with them.
Obstacle No. 2: The uncertainty surrounding the 2010 Congressional elections. As I have warned on numerous occasions, having free and fair elections in 2010 is no certainty, to say the least. And if there isn’t a big change in the makeup of the House and Senate in 2010, Vegas bookies will probably be giving odds that there will be no presidential election in 2012.
After all, one can’t change dictators … er, leaders … in the midst of a “crisis.” Just ask the Duplicitous Despot’s chief of staff, Rahmma Obama. Dick Morris is right. It’s 2010 or bust!
Obstacle No. 3: And now we get to the biggest obstacle of all: the Republicans. Even if the Grand Old Party were to miraculously gain control of both the House and Senate in 2010, the question is: Will they have the courage to seriously dismantle socialism? Or will they merely make a token gesture to slow the pace toward total tyranny? The latter has been the drill for at least the past one hundred years. Sadly, most professed conservatives today are to the left of FDR.
Specifically, undoing the damage that’s been done would entail repealing each and every unconstitutional law that has been passed — not just during the reign of the Duplicitous Despot, but since at least the early part of the 20th century. Just because an immoral law has been on the books for a long time doesn’t make it any less immoral. How long was slavery legal in the U.S.? How long was communism accepted as the norm in the Soviet Union?
Liberty is man’s natural state, tyranny his natural enemy. Natural Law is superior to manmade laws, and the essence of Natural Law is self-evident: Individuals have a right to sovereignty over their own lives. Period.
McCainizing about “cutting waste” and “slowing the growth of benefits” is nothing more than a cowardly surrender. Cutting and slowing only succeed in holding things in place until the progressives regain power and move their agenda still further to the left.
The problem with all forms of welfare is that once a program is on the books, no one has the guts to suggest completely removing it. When progressives manage to push something through, they know very well that the pampered populace will see it as a “right.” They are counting on this free-loader mentality for long-term victory.
Bailing out California will be a mega-example of what I’m talking about. If the bailout occurs — and it probably will — IOU Arnold will say to the American taxpayer, “Thanks, chump.” Once he gets his bailout, he will show his appreciation by cutting back on ZERO benefits. That’s right, ZERO. Nothing will change. In fact, California will continue to expand its economy-killing welfare agenda, and you will continue to support the lifestyles of millions of people in that state who eat more taxes than they pay. Please quote me on that.
The only hope for the U.S. is for a libertarian-centered conservative candidate, one of incredible honesty and courage, to step up to the plate and say: “The party’s over. Neither I nor anyone else in government has a right to anything you earn or own. And you have no right to anything that I or anyone else earns or owns.
“It’s okay to love your neighbor, but I have no right to force you to take care of his medical needs … or support him if he loses his job … or hire him at a wage that I deem to be fair … or help him financially, or otherwise, in any other way.
“From octomoms in California to welfare bums in Massachusetts … from environmentalists in Oregon to heroine addicts in New York City … I have no right to force you to accommodate their desires just because they call them needs. And by no stretch of the imagination are anyone’s “needs” rights. The only rights an individual possesses are those given to him by God.”
So, where will this courageous humanoid come from? Frankly, I don’t know. I don’t see him or her on the political horizon. Is there anyone out there with the courage not to pander to the unions, illegal immigrants, and other special-interest groups?
Is there anyone out there who is willing to step front and center and praise entrepreneurs and small-business owners? You know, the villains who sometimes get rich by producing products and services that people actually want — and, as a bonus, create jobs in the process?
If all else fails, maybe we’ll have to draft Glenn Beck. Of course, he’d be an expensive president to protect — considering the food tasters and all — but it would be an entertaining ride … no duplicity and lots of laughs. I’m just sayin’, ya know.
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Copyright © 2012 Robert Ringer
ROBERT RINGER is a New York Times #1 bestselling author and host of the highly acclaimed Liberty Education Interview Series, which features interviews with top political, economic, and social leaders. He has appeared on Fox News, Fox Business, The Tonight Show, Today, The Dennis Miller Show, Good Morning America, The Lars Larson Show, ABC Nightline, and The Charlie Rose Show, and has been the subject of feature articles in such major publications as Time, People, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Barron's, and The New York Times.
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There IS someone who fills every qualification you listed above.
Her name is Sarah Palin.
I just listened to her resignation speech, and I think she did the right thing. Those frivolous lawsuits and media attacks were actually costing her State money, and were a major distraction to being a successful Governor.
I don’t know if she’ll run for President in 2012, but I guarantee she will have an ARMY of people to campaign for her. The blogosphere is buzzing with millions of fans. And those fans will ignore the elite media and make her a force to reckon with.
We Conservatives are sick and tired of being fed weak leaders like McCain. And we’re rising up.
Glenn Beck??? Nah. Here’s the dream ticket: Gary Johnson/Jesse Ventura Libertarians for President 2012.
Most excellent article, I like you pray the walking dead in this country wake up before we are only a shell of the free America many have fought and died for.
Some say it cannot happen here; however, I am sure the Jews during Hitler’s time had the same views and, just like the proverbial frog in a pot of slowly boiling water, will stay the course until they are boiled to death. The walking dead as you rightly call them are positioned for the same fate as it were and will take the rest of us with them.
How about we elect you? Everyone I’m in touch with would vote for you!
I know, you don’t want the job. But gee, we could sure use your voice leading us out of this quagmire.
I believe that I have just the man you are looking for. Let me send you three of his CD’s and I think you will be both pleased and amazed.
Over the past6 months I have been sending his CD’s personally to Sean Hannity, Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Steels and others. He embeds a “buzz word” in many of his CD’s… A word that is rarely used. When we hear it coming back, we know that one of these great men have recieved and are using his CD’s. He asks no “credit” and has remained completly anonymous. We would have to literally DRAG him to the office but he would be GREAT if he would take the job! A real man of America and her people.
God Bless and Keep you for all of your wonderful work, candor and courage in these very difficult times.
Here is what he says about FREEDOM:
“Before He Created the Universes, The One Universal God granted FREEDOM and FREE WILL to every Soul. No man or government or agency has the Right to take away from any man or woman that which The One God has given. Know that whosoever tries to do so is a tool of The Force of Darkness. Oppose him and defeat him”
Ila Friend
P.S. Where would I send the CD’s so that you would be sure to get them?
So, when will you throw your hat into the race, Robert?
I have to agree that one of the biggest obstacles of all is the Republicans. Most of those who still support the Republicans are part of the walking dead. In my opinion, the comatose electorate, in and of itself, constitutes the single biggest obstacle to freedom. For example, lets take the famous republican one liner, “Are you better off now, than you were four years ago?” This highly misunderstood question, posed by Ronald Reagan, has been turned into a political rule of thumb and, thus, a major factor in the decision making process for the average American, when he or she decides on which politician they will or will not vote for in any given election. “It’s the economy stupid” is just another way of expressing this type of logic and the political importance of what I simply call, “The Better Off Here And Now Rule” that the vast majority of irrationally-selfish Americans live by. And the politically expedient use to win elections. This rule,based on short-term thinking, has become a major factor why America is on a downward trend and moving toward collapse. This type of logic insidiously appeals to the short-term selfish interests of the American People. Of course, Ronald Reagan never intended that famous one line phrase to become what it has become. He was simply pointing out, in economic terms that the average American could understand–which isn’t much– that America was headed for a collapse under big government and the poor leadership of Jimmy Carter.
“Are you better off now, than you were four years ago?” Is a question that has been taken and changed from its original context into a politically expedient question which appeals to the average and dumbed down American who is little informed or interested in learning what’s in his or her long term best interest; but, is more interested in sports or game shows or sitcoms or soap-opera or celebrities or the neurotic-mental-freaks featured on Oprah Winfrey/Dr. Phil—you know the kind I’m speaking of,( i.e. the sensational and base sideshow freaks that the talk-show hosts peddle to the general public.) All of the above can be classified as a complete and utter waste of precious time.
“Are you better off now, than you were four years ago?” —–has come to mean— is the government helping you more now, than four years ago?— i.e. with the help of big government are you getting more credit cards, bigger home loans, better union benefits, a larger 401k, can you afford a face-lift and tummy-tuck, are you eating out enough, do you have a 50 inch flat screen T.V., a quad-processor inside your computer, can you afford to raise a big family and send them all to college with government help, etc, etc, etc……? In short: is each and every one of your pecuniary objectives being satisfied with the aid of big government, so you can then proceed to spend more and then, in turn, feel better here and now, than you did four years ago?
The simple truth is, as a country, long-term, when we ask the question: are we better off now, than we were four years ago, it all depends on, if, the government’s size and role is growing or shrinking. If the government is growing, than we are not better off—– because big government is unsustainable. And this unsustainability inevitably leads to an over exploitation of taxpayers, which leads to a painful revolution. And make no mistake, a modern day revolution is where America is headed.
Happy July 4th everyone.
Great Tortoise:
A couple of years ago, I though of Donald Trump who I feel is a pragmatist, as a possible guy who could right the ship. But then, I heard him rail about the oil companies (Exxon etc.) on O’Reilly and he deflated my interest for the time being.
Regards…
Obstacle #2 if a biggie, because the Duplicitous Despot (I love it!) and his band of ACORN gang members will do anything to steal an election. They’ve done it before and they’ll do it again. My fear is that in 2012 the DD will decide to stay sort of in the style of Chavez, Castro and even Manuel Zelaya…why leave? In the Alinsky/Cloward Piven style I’m sure the DD can drum up a crisis that will require only he to rectify our dire circumstances.
Our only prayer is someone will start disattaching the Obama Kook-Aid from the drones so that they rouse from their fevered dream and realize what is going on!
http://www.jeannie-ology.com
I you are really interested in slowing the pace toward total tyranny NOW check out this link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kE8xDMokpM
and if you want more in depth information to to;
http://republicmagazine.com/webinar/
This issue needs immediate, meaning this week, attention.
Don’t want to be pessimistic, but would the media give fair coverage of any candidate that would try to offer an alternate version of truth?
[...] http://blog.robertringer.com/2009/07/03/its-the-benefits-stupid/#comments [...]
In short, we’re screwed.
I don’t see how we’re going to get out of this mess. If we do get out, I’d say it’s going to take a good 25 years or so to do it.
My instinct tells me it is going to take a major event to wake up these people. It’s scary seeing all of the brainwashed people but think about this…. what if the people doing the brainwashing are actually brainwashed themselves?
I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but I expect the next major event will be the government trying to kill of hundreds of thousands of people with a “vaccine” for swine flu.
We’re only 6 months into Obummer’s presidency… this is going to get really really ugly.
duplicitous – marked by deliberate deceptiveness especially by pretending one set of feelings and acting under the influence of another; “she was a deceitful scheming little thing”- Israel Zangwill; “a double-dealing double agent”; “a double-faced infernal traitor and schemer”- W.M.Thackeray