On the eve of every election I harken back to what my father of blessed memory
used to say. He was a pragmatic progressive Democrat who was a four-year combat veteran of WWII, worked two full-time jobs his entire career, and held seven masters degrees in subjects from linguistics to Western History to Hebrew Literature. He obviously never slept but he was brilliant in ways which can only be imagined these days what with narrow, specialized learning tracks and generally poorly selected reading lists in schools including, but not limited to, most universities.
He had a few words of wisdom to impart. One was: there is rampant lying in the news organizations and at best, the truth is shaded. However, there is one publication which never intentionally lies to its readers, ever. And that publication is: The Racing Form. you cannot lie to gamblers - they will cut the ties forever. Whatever is printed within is the best knowledge available to the reporter. My Dad's assumption was that if a media member reported something as fact, that that fact was viewed through a specially colored lens and for whatever reason which might be utterly unknown to the masses, it was advantageous to report, or not report in a certain fashion. This policy was generally decided a priori way up in the editorial chain. If something were reported which should not have been, in the opinion of the powers-that-be, careful retrenchment was then executed to minimize the fallout.
The second consideration was that the Nation was headed in some direction, inexorably and inevitably. He used to say this before the Kennedy Assassination and afterwards he just shook his head and said that this was all a course-correction with respect to what Eisenhower had referred to as the military-industrial complex. My father respected Eisenhower for making the speech but knew that it would have little or no effect upon the March of Time. I've written about this before, but I will again share the anecdote when Goldwater was nominated, Eisenhower was interviewed on TV by two reporters. Ike was not happy about Goldwater's candidacy, but these two reporters kept interrupting and changing the topic, thus confusing the situation with respect to the viewer. I was 11 at the time. My father turned to me and stated words which I have never forgotten: "In America there is nothing worse than being a "former" anything. This man was a Five-Star General, led the Allied Forces against the most horrifying villains in history successfully, was a two-term President of the United States, and these two won't let him finish a sentence. Imagine how they'll treat you after you're retired if this is how they treat this man. I hold no briefs for his politics, I certainly didn't vote for him, but these idiots have no respect for the man; none." To this day, I recall that moment vividly.
The third occurrence was in 1980 on Election night. I called my father and said, "Dad, what are we gonna do?" His reply: "What you're gonna do is get up and go to work tomorrow morning and work hard, do the best you can, try to improve the lives of those within your sphere the best you can. Carter thought that he could lead Americans by sitting in the White House with a sweater on with the heat turned down and attempt to commiserate with them. Americans, for good or ill, don't want to hear that. They require the preacher's intensity and verve for better or worse. Reagan and Republicans know how, always knew how, to give this to them. they prey upon their weaknesses, their fears, and get them to vote against their own economic and life-lengthening issues by doing so. Democrats will only sporadically learn how to do this and then they forget. Republicans never forget the necessity of doing this.
The fourth and final statement he made in this regard was that the Fundamental Principle of Republicanism was for rich people to be able to hold onto their money; that in America it is extremely difficult to make a lot of money but even harder to hold onto it once it has been squirreled away. Every decision a Republican makes is with an eye towards this Principle. It is virtually inviolate.
We have found that nothing has changed. We need to win on Tuesday to allow the status quo, which admittedly isn't great, to continue. We know that losing will throw us into some, but not complete, turmoil. Some will suffer needlessly, but the narcissism of many of the electorate precludes them caring enough to think of the plight of others, even if they do attend the religious service of their choice on Sundays. I wish us the best luck and to GOTV.
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my spirits today! I was probably 10 years old at this time in history and it was MY father who indoctrinated me. I was #5 in a family of 6 girls and my father and I were forever linked by our passion for politics. Only differ in that my father was a career military man. Offered many promotions, but said he would never make the leap to become an officer. I still have his records of recommendations that were given to me when he passed away. He taught me much of what you just posted so eloquently and now has me in tears.
I too recall Ike's words about the military industrial complex, but he was a Democrat to the day he died. He didn't vote for Eisenhower, it's one of the first elections I clearly remember. However, as time passed that quote came up a lot. I'm obviously a "boomer" and his wild child who walked to a different drummer than my other sisters who, all but one remained Democrats. But, to this day I push to get them to VOTE which drives me nuts. My oldest sister is gone now but I know what we see today would have distressed her even if she didn't follow politics like I do.
Enough of my comments, just wanted to say thank you for your post. So few people understand what I'm feeling right now. I got up this morning, a cold day for Florida, made coffee as my husband ate breakfast and was going to take our labradors for a walk. That didn't happen though. My pent up anxiety and probably some depression took over and I told my husband I was going back to bed. I rarely eat chocolate, but we had some left over from Halloween and I think I've already eaten 14 mini-Milky-Ways and feel like TOTAL CRAP! REALLY! Only got up because I'm also an avid tennis junkie and my fave is Novak Djokovic who just won the final in Paris and will be defending his No.1 status at the WTF in London. Wanted to check FB comments, which is the ONLY real reason I use FB.
BUT, couldn't resist checking in here, which I said I wasn't going to do.
So again, THANK YOU for your post. I'm going to copy it and keep it. I loved reading it, but can't say my fears are gone. Now, I'm going to have to wait until this awful "candy" experience goes away! It's horrible and nobody will believe I did it because I have a real fear of becoming overweight and watch what I eat all the time! I kept the wrappers so I can show my kids. They're gonna say I flushed the chocolate down the toilet... BUT NOT!
to acknowledge your reply. I've saved yours in a folder and especially want my grandson and grand-daughter to read it. My grand-daughter is registered for the first time this year, she's now old enough to vote. Her brother got to vote in 2012. Since we live in FL my grand-daughter is being influenced by a former and present boyfriend. I live in an affluent county, though I always say I'm not one of them. However, her present boyfriend has very wealthy parents and TOTAL R's! She does see her previous boyfriends from time to time as she hasn't actually gotten over him (first love) even though he wants to date others. BOTH are very much Repub, neither one who know much about politics. Just that their parents vote that way. We've had conversations and they've said they vote like their parents. She knows how closely I follow politics and try to keep my grandkids informed on issues. This is her first year attending a Jr. college and knows how much it costs, but I don't think I've persuaded her. Her brother has voted Democratic for the most part, especially this time because of our Governor's race. I pushed hard for her to register and she did, but she said her friends are mostly Repubs, sooooooo I got the message.
This county is very, very red and I think #2 in per capita income in FL.
Anyway, I will show her your information regardless, so thanks again. I'm so filled with anxiety because I can't bear to think of having to live through 4 more years of "the alien" Rick Scott! I do feel Crist is much more moderate and did govern that way before and he's stated he will accept Medicare Expansion and other issues I agree with. Not much chance of getting anyone who leans left down here. Scott can barely string sentences together and he's fully owned by the Kochs. Off shore drilling has me in knots.
So enough for now, can only make a wish we don't have Scott. Don't say "hope" because I don't think the word is appropriate anymore.
