Another reason I know something about Republicanism in general is that I was raised a Republican. I was door-to-door canvassing for Barry Goldwater (AuH2O) at an age when curfew for my age-mates came earlier than I would get off the streets. At thirty years of age I was approached by a Republican operative with the authority to represent the Republican Party apparatus in vetting me as a candidate for Congress. I respectfully declined.
I had by that time wised up just enough to understand that I had no desire to thwart a career as a structuralist philosopher who would ultimately aspire to become America's philosopher of Progressivism way before that term was popular. In fact, I didn't use the term, but the way I saw being a liberal then is precisely how I see being a progressive today. At the time, I was aware that Republicans could in theory be progressive, but sufficiently unsure of their willingness to take the bait that I thought it best not do the same myself.
In the meantime, The Republicans showed how entitlement, a swear word in their vocabulary, could in fact define their existence, their policies and their means of abiding themselves all the while. These aspects of living life as a Republican comprise the second part of this essay. The final part examines how being a Republican has meant devolution: from initially paying lip service to democratic ideals, to calculated methods by which the majority of the nation is deliberately stripped of access to the prerogatives of a democratic citizenry, namely, to hold its representatives accountable, and in turn all those in positions of power and authority likewise.
The philosophy
Democracy is unimaginable without accountability of power or, what is the same thing from a theoretical grounding, the stewardship of offices. We have seen a steady ebb and wane in our reliance on stewardship up until the late 1950's, when the pace quickened, but only in the negative direction. With stewardship now all but extinct, the public is practically without the means to obtain, let alone enforce, accountability on anything or anybody, leaving those in power able to thieve the rest of us with impunity, and which they are wasting no time at thus accommodating themselves.
They are now little other than an insult to the democratic ideal. Their erstwhile base sorely needs to wake up to the impending cataclysm which they have by their naivetà � and cupidity enabled, nourished and, up to this point, cheered. So I have an idea. We should, barring their sudden elevation to consciousness, take up a collection of sufficient funds whereby to deport all registered Republicans earning less than 75,000 annually in even amounts to Russia, China and Iran, where they will be welcomed and cherished. All are hotbeds of honor-based culture in varied forms, where authoritarian regimes will perfectly suit the Republican personality.
Look, after all, at the programming the Republican underclass watches. Fox news, where blatant lies and deceit are eaten up like cotton candy at a carnival. The hit series "House' was never expected to do well here in the States by the producers. Boy, were they surprised. It was no surprise to me, however, because the show elevates irresponsible prerogative to positions of authority and respect, while admittedly helping the audience better understand aspects of Asperger's Syndrome.
Other Republican staples include auto racing (at which a personal visit of the First Lady brought boos) and fictitious show wrestling, where the actors are given arrogant and self-righteous attitudes without exception. Republicans are raised in the honor-based mode. They grow up to be insecure power wannabies. And we wonder why we have problems. As I say, better to deport them. Without a base, the remaining power brokers will be powerless (best of course to take money out of legislation) for having no way to obtain elective office, and liberals will once more be enabled to re-establish accountability throughout society. Of course I don't seriously mean to deport them. It is just my attempt at the bald-faced lie, to wake up liberals to a reality they would apparently rather sleep through.
Am I a mean-spirited person? No, just a very realistic one. It is the Republicans who are mean-spirited in what they permit their leaders to foment on their behalf. That they do not necessarily come across that way is of absolutely no import to argument or reality. Liberals require to learn and grow from this awareness. There simply is no reason to cut them slack, or to assume that shaming them into reality is a below the belt tactic. Not only is it not below the belt, it is what they understand. Don't deny to them what they know and respond to favorably. It is how they were raised, after all. If you don't stand up to them and put them in their place you will be just as responsible for the consequences to our democracy as they.
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