CITIZENS CAN NO LONGER IGNORE POLITICS

CITIZENS CAN NO LONGER IGNORE POLITICS

By Domenick J. Maglio PhD. Traditional Realist

“Ignorance is an evil weed which dictators may cultivate among their dupes but which no democracy can afford among its citizens.” Sir William Beveredge

Most people rationalize that they do not follow politics for two reasons: one they are too busy and two, they get nauseous watching the political circus. These are cop-outs for not doing their civic duty in a constitutional republic that can cost all of us our rights, freedoms and nation.

We are in a subtle political revolution. The two sides are the progressive statists and the conservative constitutionalists/free enterprise adherents.  The confusion for most people is that politicians of both parties say things that mislead people to believe that they are constitutionalists when they are not. These politicians cannot be taken at their word because they outright lie.

The Democrat members of congress are more openly progressive in their rhetoric. At times they express traditional conservative sentiments but ultimately support progressive legislation by their votes. The party leaders allow less vulnerable congressional members to vote against an unpopular progressive bill when they already have the votes to pass it. These devious political shenanigans are commonplace in both parties.

The Republican Party members are split into big corporate advocates and small government conservatives. The establishment republicans are heavily influenced by the Chamber of Commerce policies of supporting big government progressive policies when it appears to assist large corporations. This wing of the Republican Party is less concerned about individual freedom and opportunity for everyone and more about attracting corporate contributions by doing their biding to keep themselves as part of the ruling class.

The steadfast conservative members are targets of attack from both the Democrat progressive media establishment and progressive Republicans. They also receive harsh criticism by the RINOS (Republican In Name Only) progressive wing of the Republican Party. Being a true conservative is not politically correct. They are often politically assassinated by the press putting words into their mouths that they never said and are called out for imaginary or minor transgressions according to the progressive worldview.

Political correctness is a tool to limit free discussion by commentators who put emphasis on particular words, purposely misquoting or adding words. An example of this was the constant ridicule of Sara Palin by the media. She was quoted as saying she could “see Russia from her house” when in reality it was said by Tina Fay a performer on Saturday Night Live.  Mitt Romney was assaulted for stating that Russia was our number one adversary in the world.  Recently our military establishment echoed that assessment. We are currently witnessing this same phenomenon in the media coverage of the 2016 Republican presidential candidates. It has advanced from “gotcha politics” to “obliterate the ideological opposition through any means.”

There is only one way to counteract this insidious marriage of progressive politicians with the progressive mainstream media and that is by becoming self-educated in the political arena. Understanding the complex game of politics is not an easy or pleasant activity. One learns how self-serving and vicious some of our leaders can be.

The problem with a hands-off approach to politics is these representatives hold our existence in their hands. Without careful examination of politician’s promises and actual actions we will be unable to keep our freedom and everything we have worked for and earned.

Aware and conscious citizens are the safety valve protecting our Republic. When well meaning though lazy citizens become commonplace the nation’s freedom, stability and quality of life lessens and eventually falls apart. Citizens need to be politically aware or suffer the full force of evil.

Ignorance may temporarily leave us in a calm state of delusion but it will end in the loss of what we cherish. The lack of vigilance to know what is happening in politics among our honest and hardworking citizens allows and encourages evil to overwhelm the good.

All law abiding, freedom-loving people need to expend time and energy to keep evil at bay to protect the future. It is the minimal price to pay to preserve out precious republic.

Domenick Maglio, PhD. is a columnist carried by various newspapers, an author of several books and owner/director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep program. You can visit Dr. Maglio at www.drmaglio.blogspot.com.