The Lies We Tell Each Other
In the same line of thinking as my previous post, I received the following quote in my inbox today from the Patriot Post, an ultraconservative Republican/Christian Right newsletter that is pro-government no matter what is happening, pro-Republican no matter how FUBAR things become, and preaches ultra-conservative evangelical "selective" Christianity as the founding principle of our nation. It seems that the authors and editors of this "rag"--like those that support Hannity, Colmes, Coulter, Falwell, Robertson, Dobson, et al--do not mind re-writing history (aka "revisionism") or misrepresenting the facts (aka propaganda).
In this quote, Nofziger, and the folks at the Patriot Post, seem to dismiss the fact that only 40% of those eligible to vote bother to register, and only 20-22% of those that are registered to vote bother to turn out for most elections. Even in the most active of election years, the turnout rarely rises above 50% anywhere in the United States.
Add to these REAL statistics--which can be verified by going to any county or state election office (voter registration office) and looking at the past 5-10 election turnout statistics--the fact that most voters do not know most of the issues or candidates in any given election (most voters vote on the basis of name recognition rather than a full investigation of the candidate or issues), and Nofziger's statement is false from the gitgo. If there is a drift toward socialism, it is because the voters are so accustomed to being "buggered" by politicians and political parties, they don't bother to take an active role, don't see qualified candidates in the races, and do not feel their votes really count... therefore, any shift toward any "ism"--socialism, capitalism, communism, or otherwise--is a product of what is being done in the legislative bodies at the local, county, state and federal levels.
Somebody better respect me in the morning...
"The reason this country continues its drift toward socialism and big nanny government is because too many people vote in the expectation of getting something for nothing, not because they have a concern for what is good for the country... If children were forced to learn about the Constitution, about how government works, about how this nation came into being, about taxes and about how government forever threatens the cause of liberty perhaps we wouldn't see so many foolish ideas coming out of the mouths of silly old men." —Lyn Nofziger
In this quote, Nofziger, and the folks at the Patriot Post, seem to dismiss the fact that only 40% of those eligible to vote bother to register, and only 20-22% of those that are registered to vote bother to turn out for most elections. Even in the most active of election years, the turnout rarely rises above 50% anywhere in the United States.
Add to these REAL statistics--which can be verified by going to any county or state election office (voter registration office) and looking at the past 5-10 election turnout statistics--the fact that most voters do not know most of the issues or candidates in any given election (most voters vote on the basis of name recognition rather than a full investigation of the candidate or issues), and Nofziger's statement is false from the gitgo. If there is a drift toward socialism, it is because the voters are so accustomed to being "buggered" by politicians and political parties, they don't bother to take an active role, don't see qualified candidates in the races, and do not feel their votes really count... therefore, any shift toward any "ism"--socialism, capitalism, communism, or otherwise--is a product of what is being done in the legislative bodies at the local, county, state and federal levels.
Somebody better respect me in the morning...
posted by Jim Downey at 4:14 PM
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