Calm Despair

National Review Online Corner ^ | March 22, 2010 | John Derbyshire

[AnotherUnixGeek]

I see plainly that Western civilization, over my lifetime, has been a slow-sinking ship. The few who have known what is happening have worked desperately to seal the watertight doors, repair the fissures, pump out the flooded zones. It's been a losing fight, though. The tilt of the decks is harder and harder to ignore. Last night, a major bulkhead gave way. Soon a funnel will topple over with a great crash and a shower of sparks.

Oh good grief - this is the kind of British fatalism that's given them the failing welfare state they have now. America is at heart a conservative nation with conservative values, not a nation of people looking for the government to get in their business. It took years of feckless, unprincipled Republican misrule in Congress as well as a president more interested in "compassionate conservative" Big Government entitlements than free markets to give us Obama, Pelosi and Reid. If the Republicans can finally put their house in order and present a clear, small-government alternative, or if any 3rd party can, Americans will flock to them in droves.

[SnuffaBolshevik]

"Screw it. We fight - there is no other choice."

Fight or drown, people.

Pick one.

[FreeAtlanta]

We need to eliminate the IRS, but the Democrats are growing it like they poured mirical grow on it.

It is hard to believe that just after Republicans took over congress, they were dragging abusive IRS agents before congress to testify about abusive of power, and the IRS was realling backward. Now, they will run the nation. sick.

[bethtopaz]

Makes me sick, too.

Selling their souls and their freedom for a little freebie which isn’t really free.

You’ve heard this: “If you think health care is expensive now, wait until it’s free.”

[schu]

I would like to think you are wrong, clearly Bam?Pelosie/Reid etal think you are correct.

We will know soon enough, and it will take more than the election to be certain. This really is the last stand, the core of middle America who want freedom more than the “security” promised by the ruling class. History does not have a very good track record on this issue.

How far am I willing to go? What am I willing to do? How about my family? What happens to them? These are the questions we will all need to ask.

schu

[roses of sharon]

I know, I pray we have enough real Americans left.

And if we do, will/can we be radical enough? We have serious decisions to make, that is for sure.

[widowithfoursons]

Just read Cicero, and you’ll understand Derbyshire.

[WOBBLY BOB]

[WOBBLY BOB]

http://www.conservativeundergroundstickers.com/thumbnails/IF-YOU-THINK-HEALTHCARETN.jpg

[servantboy777]

If they enforce the Healthcare law like they do tax law....this is truly disturbing.

We all know, the IRS treats citizens as if they are guilty and need to prove their innocence.

Very troubling especially the recent report that the IRS ordered a bunch of tactical 12 gauge shotguns for enforcement purposes.

[Rockingham]

I like and respect Derb, and there is intellectual satisfaction in being right as things get worse, but consider the last fifty years and our challenges and accomplishments even when many Americans expected failure:

(1) a lengthy struggle against Communism, which featured well armed adversaries and extensive espionage and internal subversion, but ending with the US victorious;

(2) a rebuilding of the US military after two wars that ended in a stalemate (Korea) and a loss (Viet Nam);

(3) victories in two wars in the Persian Gulf, including the defeat of an insurgency in Iraq such as had defeated us in Viet Nam;

(4) several summers of massive race riots in major US cities, waves of antiwar riots, and the chaos and distress of three major assassinations;

(5) extraordinary unrest and cultural change in the 1960's that called into question basic American values; and

(6) a recession coupled with severe inflation and unemployment, ended by Reagan's tax and spending cuts.

Similar lists could be compiled for any other era of our history. America has a deep reservoir of strength and a capacity for renewal that we have called upon successfully many times. We can master our current difficulties and undo Obamacare and other follies.