“Do as I say and not as I do!”
That admonishment, steeped in parental, wink-of-the-eye hypocrisy, is a staple in discipline in 2021.
Sometimes, our offspring comply, sometimes not. Rest assured, however, that they learn exponentially more from our conduct than our words.
So, let’s take a look at a handful of our lessons-of-late. Among them:
Be governed by fear and emotion. If a perceived threat comes your way, however small or unknown, think of the worst possible outcome and make decisions based on that model rather than contemplating the risks associated with each.
Consequences of actions do NOT matter. Being safe is all that matters. Don’t worry about collateral damage that accompanies taking the path to “safety.” Do not worry about such superficialities as livelihood, business, education, mental health and needs of families and individuals. They need not be weighed in decision-making.
Government knows best as you are too stupid to decide for yourselves. Government will tell you how to run your life and will decide what is safe, what is not. The elected will decide which stores you can enter, which you cannot, which will stay open and which must close.
Defend bad decisions at all costs. Once bad choices have become apparent, never acknowledge them to others or self, and compound them by staying the course even if it’s bad for you and everyone around you. Admitting error is the greatest folly of all time.
Rewrite history. If you are proven to be wrong, simply make up new stories about how you were actually right, and blame others for their mistaken perspective and memories.
You thought government is to protect rights? Think again. Most people don’t remember that the primary role of government is to protect our unalienable rights. We are a long-way from, “Liberty or Death!” Now it is “Safety Uber Alles.” Almost every governor in the land has said it is his/her priority to keep us safe. Well, now, at least we know that is their primary role, well-accepted by the public and subject to abuse at every opportunity.
Freedom of religion is a privilege. Government will tell us when we can worship. “It’s for our own good, don’t you know?” our leaders explain. Exercise of religion is just one of the civil liberties for which we must obtain permission.
Freedom of Speech? Overrated. Say what you want, at least once, but only at the expense of being shamed, cancelled, fired, disparaged and maligned. Keep your mouth shut as differing opinions are not wanted. Just go along to get along, like everyone else, to lead that happy life.
Children come last. Oh, we say they come first, but don’t fall for that. Our actions have spoken volumes. We say we’d do anything for them, but we have failed miserably. They have been sacrificed – and feel it.
It’s OK to mortgage our children’s future. Don’t worry about the money we are spending and the consequences as the burden will be borne by future generations. Do what is expedient at the time and it will be justified. Our children will understand our excesses and only too-happy to pay for them. Even though we fought a revolutionary war over, “No taxation without representation,” we are fine with taxing our children’s future-earnings notwithstanding the reality that they had no part in them.
Representative government is unnecessary. We don’t really need the legislative branch. All its powers have been mortgaged-over to the executive branch through emergency actions. Presidents/Governors can be trusted with these arbitrary authorities and the people have no power to object.
Rule of law is for us, not them. We all need to comply with the law unless we are one of them. They don’t have to comply because their message must be more important because they are more important.
You have been wrong all of these years! Color of skin does matter. Now you are a racist unless you do consider pigmentation as a primary identity. Understand just by being White (if you happen to be White) you are of the oppressing class. Know you are part of the problem. It doesn’t matter if you owned slaves or not, or believe that “all me are created equal”, you are guilty.
America was and is a horrible place. Never mind all the great progress the United States has made in living up to our Founding ideals. Ignore the opportunities that people of all colors and creeds have received. Reject the impact that America has had for liberty and justice throughout the world. Focus only on the negative and believe in false narratives.
Agree with the mob or else. Dissenting opinions will not be tolerated. Look for ways to be offended. Those who disagree with you must be bad. Cancel whatever you don’t like. Anything you do can be justified if you look for a reason. Truth doesn’t matter, only the accepted narrative. All examples of lessons learned.
I could go on, but that would take volumes. Our ancestors looking down must be so proud of the progress we have made.
They risked it all so we could become risk-averse. They established self-government so we could crave to be ruled.
They sacrificed for the next generation so that we might live for today.
Can anyone say, I-R-O-N-I-E-S?
Jeff Utsch, of Tucson, AZ, is an instructor at the Leadership and Freedom Center in Gettysburg, PA and can be heard on iHeart Radio’s Podcast, Constitutional Conversations, with KFYI 550-AM host James T Harris, of The Conservative Circus. Jeff@freedomexpoaz.com