Preventing the third transformation

Sonoran News.com ^ | Nov 28, 2012 | Laura Hollis

[OregonRancher]

I am reading so many pundits and other talking heads analyzing the disaster that was this year's elections. I am adding my own ten cents. Here goes:

1. We are outnumbered. We accurately foresaw the enthusiasm, the passion, the commitment, the determination, and the turnout. Married women, men, independents, Catholics, evangelicals - they all went for Romney in percentages as high or higher than the groups which voted for McCain in 2008. It wasn't enough. What we saw in the election on Tuesday was a tipping point: we are now at a place where there are legitimately fewer Americans who desire a free republic with a free people than there are those who think the government should give them stuff. There are fewer of us who believe in the value of free exchange and free enterprise. There are fewer of us who do not wish to demonize successful people in order to justify taking from them. We are outnumbered. For the moment. It's just that simple.

2. It wasn't the candidate(s). Some are already saying, "Romney was the wrong guy"; "He should have picked Marco Rubio to get Florida/Rob Portman to get Ohio/Chris Christie to get [someplace else]." With all due respect, these assessments are incorrect. Romney ran a strategic and well-organized campaign. Yes, he could have hit harder on Benghazi. But for those who would have loved that, there are those who would have found it distasteful. No matter what tactic you could point to that Romney could have done better, it would have been spun in a way that was detrimental to his chances. Romney would have been an excellent president, and Ryan was an inspired choice. No matter who we ran this year, they would have lost. See #1, above.

3. It's the culture, stupid. We have been trying to fight this battle every four years at the voting booth. It is long past time we admit that that is not where the battle really is. We abdicated control of the culture - starting back in the 1960s. And now our largest primary social institutions - education, the media, Hollywood (entertainment) have become really nothing more than an assembly line for cranking out reliable little Leftists. Furthermore, we have allowed the government to undermine the institutions that instill good character - marriage, the family, communities, schools, our churches. So, here we are, at least two full generations later - we are reaping what we have sown. It took nearly fifty years to get here; it will take another fifty years to get back. But it starts with the determination to reclaim education, the media, and the entertainment business. If we fail to do that, we can kiss every election goodbye from here on out. And much more.

4. America has become a nation of adolescents. The real loser in this election was adulthood: Maturity. Responsibility. The understanding that liberty must be accompanied by self-restraint. Obama is a spoiled child, and the behavior and language of his followers and their advertisements throughout the campaign makes it clear how many of them are, as well. Romney is a grown-up. Romney should have won. Those of us who expected him to win assumed that voters would act like grownups. Because if we were a nation of grownups, he would have won.

But what did win? Sex. Drugs. Bad language. Bad manners. Vulgarity. Lies. Cheating. Name-calling. Finger-pointing. Blaming. And irresponsible spending. This does not bode well. People grow up one of two ways: either they choose to, or circumstances force them to. The warnings are all there, whether it is the looming economic disaster, or the inability of the government to respond to crises like Hurricane Sandy, or the growing strength and brazenness of our enemies. American voters stick their fingers in their ears and say, "Lalalalalala, I can't hear you." It is unpleasant to think about the circumstances it will take to force Americans to grow up. It is even more unpleasant to think about Obama at the helm when those circumstances arrive.

5. Yes, there is apparently a Vagina Vote. It's the subject matter of another column in its entirety to point out, one by one, all of the inconsistencies and hypocrisies of the Democrats this year. Suffice it to say that the only "war on women" was the one waged by the Obama campaign, which sexualized and objectified women, featuring them dressed up like vulvas at the Democrat National Convention, appealing to their "lady parts," comparing voting to losing your virginity with Obama, trumpeting the thrills of destroying our children in the womb (and using our daughters in commercials to do so), and making Catholics pay for their birth control. For a significant number of women, this was appealing. It might call into question the wisdom of the Nineteenth Amendment, but for the fact that large numbers of women (largely married) used their "lady smarts" instead. Either way, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton are rolling over in their graves.

6. It's not about giving up on "social issues." No Republican candidate should participate in a debate or go out on the stump without thorough debate prep and a complete set of talking points that they stick to. This should start with a good grounding in biology and a reluctance to purport to know the will of God. (Thank you, Todd and Richard.)

That said, we do not hold the values we do because they garner votes. We hold the values we do because we believe that they are time-tested principles without which a civilized, free and prosperous society is not possible. We defend the unborn because we understand that a society which views some lives as expendable is capable of viewing all lives as expendable.

We defend family - mothers, fathers, marriage, children - because history makes it quite clear that societies without intact families quickly descend into anarchy and barbarism, and we have plenty of proof of that in our inner cities where marriage is infrequent and unwed motherhood approaches 80 percent. When Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973, many thought that the abortion cause was lost. Forty years later, ultrasound technology has demonstrated the inevitable connection between science and morality. More Americans than ever define themselves as "pro-life." What is tragic is that tens of millions of children have lost their lives while Americans figure out what should have been obvious before. There is no "giving up" on social issues. There is only the realization that we have to fight the battle on other fronts. The truth will out in the end.

7. Obama does not have a mandate. And he does not need one. I have to laugh - bitterly - when I read conservative pundits trying to assure us that Obama "has to know" that he does not have a mandate, and so he will have to govern from the middle. I don't know what they're smoking. Obama does not care that he does not have a mandate. He does not view himself as being elected (much less re-elected) to represent individuals. He views himself as having been re-elected to complete the "fundamental transformation" of America, the basic structure of which he despises. Expect much more of the same - largely the complete disregard of the will of half the American public, his willingness to rule by executive order, and the utter inability of another divided Congress to rein him in. Stanley Kurtz has it all laid out here.

8. The Corrupt Media is the enemy. Too strong? I don't think so. I have been watching the media try to throw elections since at least the early 1990s. In 2008 and again this year, we saw the media cravenly cover up for the incompetence and deceit of this President, while demonizing a good, honorable and decent man with lies and smears. This is on top of the daily barrage of insults that conservatives (and by that I mean the electorate, not the politicians) must endure at the hands of this arrogant bunch of elitist snobs. Bias is one thing. What we observed with Benghazi was professional malpractice and fraud. They need to go. Republicans, Libertarians and other conservatives need to be prepared to play hardball with the Pravda press from here on out. And while we are at it, to defend those journalists of whatever political stripe (Jake Tapper, Sharyl Atkisson, Eli Lake) who actually do their jobs. As well as Fox News and talk radio. Because you can fully expect a re-elected Obama to try to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine in term two.

9. Small business and entrepreneurs will be hurt the worst For all the blather about "Wall Street versus Main Street," Obama's statist agenda will unquestionably benefit the biggest corporations which - as with the public sector unions - are in the best position to make campaign donations, hire lobbyists, and get special exemptions carved out from Obama's health care laws, his environmental regulations, his labor laws. It will be the small business, the entrepreneur, and the first-time innovators who will be crushed by their inability to compete on a level playing field.

10. America is more polarized than ever; and this time it's personal I've been following politics for a long time, and it feels different this time. Not just for me. I've received messages from other conservatives who are saying the same thing: there is little to no tolerance left out there for those who are bringing this country to its knees - even when they have been our friends. It isn't just about "my guy" versus "your guy." It is my view of America versus your view of America - a crippled, hemorrhaging, debt-laden, weakened and dependent America that I want no part of and resent being foisted on me. I no longer have any patience for stupidity, blindness, or vulgarity, so with each dumb "tweet" or FB post by one of my happily lefty comrades, another one bites the dust, for me. Delete. What does this portend for a divided Congress? I expect that Republicans will be demoralized and chastened for a short time. But I see them in a bad position. Americans in general want Congress to work together. But many do not want Obama's policies, and so Republicans who support them will be toast. Good luck, guys.

11. It's possible that America just has to hit rock bottom I truly believe that most Americans who voted for Obama have no idea what they are in for. Most simply believe him when he says that all he really wants is for the rich to pay "a little bit more." So reasonable! Who could argue with that except a greedy racist?

America is on a horrific bender. Has been for some time now. The warning signs of our fiscal profligacy and culture of lack of personal responsibility are everywhere - too many to mention. We need only look at other countries which have gone the route we are walking now to see what is in store.

For the past four years - but certainly within the past campaign season - we have tried to warn Americans. Too many refuse to listen, even when all of the events that have transpired during Obama's presidency - unemployment, economic stagnation, skyrocketing prices, the depression of the dollar, the collapse of foreign policy, Benghazi, hopelessly inept responses to natural disasters - can be tied directly to Obama's statist philosophies, and his decisions.

What that means, I fear, is that they will not see what is coming until the whole thing collapses. That is what makes me so sad today. I see the country I love headed toward its own "rock bottom," and I cannot seem to reach those who are taking it there.

Preventing The Next “Transformation” The third major transformation that Obama has promised us (after healthcare and energy) is the education system. He is likely to try to reform the hearts and minds of young people to the idea that big government is best and parents don’t have to worry about maintaining old values in their children. Obama believes that America can be transformed by this new thinking which also happens to guarantee a single party will be the ruling class in America – namely the Democrats.

[OregonRancher]

Laura Hollis is Associate Professor of Law at the University of Notre Dame. She was previously a Director at Gigot Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and an Associate Director and Clinical Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School with an undergraduate degree from Notre Dame.

[ClearCase_guy]

3. It's the culture, stupid. We have been trying to fight this battle every four years at the voting booth. It is long past time we admit that that is not where the battle really is.

We will never win until we fully embrace the idea that Social Conservatism is essential to the cause. Fiscal Conservatism and Social Conservatism work together and each helps the other succeed.

One of our biggest mistakes has been a willingness to put social issues (homosexual marriage, abortion, etc,) as secondary issues while we concentrate on the much more important issue of tax cuts. This little strategy has not served us well.

[Rytas]

We’re outnumbered IF everyone who could be consider to be on our side went out and voted. Otherwise I don’t buy this argument.

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Well presented and stated .

Freedom :
* From bondage to spiritual faith;
* From spiritual faith to great courage;
* From courage to liberty;
* From liberty to abundance;
* From abundance to complacency;
* From complacency to apathy;
* From apathy to dependence;
* From dependence back into bondage.

[Mortrey]

She has impressive credentials, but she fails to mention the very obvious vote fraud that was perpetrated...114% in some precincts!!!

If she can’t work THAT into the mix, then she has a problem holding my attention.

[Girlene]

This is an older article, but it was so well written (and true, IMO), I had to read it again. Thanks for posting it.

[Twinkie]

“namely the Democrats.”

Also known as PROGRESSIVES, DHIMMICRATS, MARXISTS, COMMUNISTS, MORAL DEGENERATES, SOCIALISTS (the “polite” term) . . . . .

[Standing Wolf]

America is on a horrific bender. Has been for some time now. The warning signs of our fiscal profligacy and culture of lack of personal responsibility are everywhere - too many to mention. We need only look at other countries which have gone the route we are walking now to see what is in store.

I wish I could refute any part of that.

[blueunicorn6]

Yes, there are ignorant and stupid Democrat voters, but I think we fail to understand our opponents if we describe them all that way. I think that single mothers, Blacks and even homosexuals vote Democrat because THEY PERCEIVE THE DEMOCRAT PARTY AS WORKING FOR THEIR PERSONAL BEST-ECONOMIC INTERESTS. We can keep calling them stupid, and they will keep voting for Democrats. The Democrats have used their Nazi Behavioral Scientists to show them that they, the Democrats, can frighten people into voting for them. They understand that fear is a tremendous motivator. What do you hear today from the Democrats about this fiscal cliff stuff. They are telling their voters that the Republicans want to starve their babies. Think about that for a second.

They are telling their voters that we want to take the food out of their babies mouths. They are using fear.

[blueunicorn6]

So, how do you respond to something like that?

“If you keep voting Democrat, you won’t have to worry about anyone taking the food out of your baby’s mouth. There won’t be any food for your baby, or for you.”

[blueunicorn6]

“Understand yourself and understand your opponents, and in one hundred battles, you will not be defeated.”

[daniel1212]

Catholics, evangelicals - they all went for Romney in percentages as high or higher than the groups which voted for McCain in 2008.

Where is he getting this? Pew (http://www.pewforum.org/Politics-and-Elections/How-the-Faithful-Voted-2012-Preliminary-Exit-Poll-Analysis.aspx) states

Obama’s margin of victory was much smaller than in 2008 when he defeated John McCain by a 53% to 46% margin, and he lost ground among white evangelical Protestants and white Catholics. But the basic religious contours of the 2012 electorate resemble recent elections – traditionally Republican groups such as white evangelicals and weekly churchgoers strongly backed Romney, while traditionally Democratic groups such as black Protestants, Hispanic Catholics, Jews and the religiously unaffiliated backed Obama by large margins.

Vote Choice by Religion and Race 

Religiously unaffiliated voters and Jewish voters were firmly in Obama’s corner in 2012 (70% and 69%, respectively). Compared with 2008, support for Obama ticked downward among both Jews and religiously unaffiliated voters in the exit polls, though these declines appear not to be statistically significant. Both of these groups have long been strongly supportive of Democratic candidates in presidential elections. Black Protestants also voted overwhelmingly for Obama (95%). 

At the other end of the political spectrum, nearly eight-in-ten white evangelical Protestants voted for Romney (79%), compared with 20% who backed Obama. Romney received as much support from evangelical voters as George W. Bush did in 2004 (79%) and more support from evangelicals than McCain did in 2008 (73%). Mormon voters were also firmly in Romney’s corner; nearly eight-in-ten Mormons (78%) voted for Romney, while 21% voted for Obama. Romney received about the same amount of support from Mormons that Bush received in 2004. (Exit poll data on Mormons was unavailable for 2000 and 2008.)

Compared with religiously unaffiliated and Jewish voters on the left and white evangelicals and Mormons on the right, Catholics and white mainline Protestants were more evenly divided. Among white mainline Protestants in the exit poll, 54% voted for Romney, while 44% supported Obama. This is virtually identical to the 2008 election, when 55% of white mainline Protestants voted for McCain and 44% backed Obama.

White Catholics, by contrast, swung strongly in the Republican direction relative to 2008. Nearly six-in-ten white Catholics (59%) voted for Romney, up from 52% who voted for McCain in 2008. Three-quarters of Hispanic Catholics voted for Obama, and Catholics as a whole were evenly divided in 2012 (50% voted for Obama, while 48% backed Romney).

[CynicalBear]

>>This little strategy has not served us well.<<

Agreed. And sadly it's all to often so called conservatives who cower and won't stand up.

[CynicalBear]

Thanks for the ping. There are some really sad statistics in those numbers. Self proclaimed Christians voting for someone like O?

[Elsie]

We abdicated control of the culture - starting back in the 1960s. And NOW it's time to BUY them all back!

[Elsie]

Daniel 9:14 NIV

[cherry]

you're wrong....to get to heaven, we need to be a moral , good people....that is true...

would it make us better citizens, a better country?...yes...

however we have over reached....

the BIGGEST problem now is that we are so financially ruined that it alone is bolstering immorality, lying, cheating, sloth....

we claim to believe in the Constitution....we claim to believe in the rule of law....we claim to believe in individual freedoms....

so lets get back to that.....sound fiscal policy, smaller govt. and fewer foreign entanglements....less taxation, more money for our families....

believe me, we get fiscally sound, we'll get individually better people, more moral, ,more spiritual....

the rest will fall in line...

[CynicalBear]

That pretty much sums it up.

[CynicalBear]

>>we get fiscally sound, we'll get individually better people, more moral, ,more spiritual....<<

Backwards. God will not bless this nation untill we get right with him. Whatever we try will fail untill we get right with him. First things first and it's not "getting fically sound".

[ClearCase_guy]

I don't see it as either/or and I don't necessarily see it as "this has to be done first".

The way I see it is: if you care about that then join with me while I work on this. And that road needs to go both ways.

Emphasizing morality and personal responsibility is a good thing. Cutting government charity/entitlements is a good thing. Do both. Don't work on one and try to get to the other later -- that doesn't work. The GOP tears itself apart because it doesn't want to work on both sides simultaneously. The Democrats are unified and successful because they just want one thing: Control.