I cannot remember the last time I saw something so outrageous, so hateful of humankind, so vainglorious, so barbaric.
In a 1910 speech to Civil War veterans in Osawatomie, Kansas, Theodore Roosevelt responded to the challenges of his day by calling for "a New Nationalism, without which we cannot hope to deal with new problems." As Roosevelt said in that speech:
At every stage, and under all circumstances, the essence of the struggle is to equalize opportunity, destroy privilege, and give to the life and citizenship of every individual the highest possible value. . . . We work in a spirit of broad and far-reaching nationalism when we work for what concerns people as a whole. We are all Americans. Our common interests are as broad as the continent.
A century later, we must be just as inventive, practical, and fearless in addressing the challenges of our time, with a new patriotism that brings us together again in a common mission. We propose a new bargain between the people and their country -- a social contract to equip Americans for the twenty-first century and unite us in higher national purpose. The terms of this bargain may be new, but the bedrock principle is not: You do your part, and your government, your company, and your country will do theirs.
Yes, Rep. Rahm Emanuel (from Illinois), in his new book The Plan, calls for a new socialist America, slavery to the State, and universal everything. What exactly does he call for?
Universal citizen service - this would be a "real" Patriot Act, one that would bring out the patriot in all of us.
Universal college access - free college for everyone.
Universal retirement savings - mandatory 401k plans and forced savings
Universal children's health care - A "National Cure Center" - no, that is not from a Rand novel.
Wealth redistribution through taxes - self-explanatory.
A ramping up of the "war on terror" - a massive expansion of the military and more forces spread further around the world, along with a domestic counterterrorism force. This, he says, will fight totalitarianism. Creating it in the first place must not be an issue.
An anti-automobile, hybrid economy - plug-in cars for grandpa, pops, and junior.
You will not believe this, so sit down....but he calls this "spreading the gospel of democracy, freedom and capitalism." It is "opportunity and security for all," he says. What a fraudulent lunatic. I call it exactly what it is: slavery, welfare, theft, redustribution, totalitarianism, and socialist central planning. Once again, the definition of words seems to go unchallenged. But this, folks, is how propaganda works. Fuzzy words for fuzzy minds. And the people sop it up. To Mr. Emanuel, the glory times of freedom and capitalism were Teddy Roosevelt's trust-busting years, FDR stepping forward to "save capitalism and government," and Bill Clinton's welfare reform. Above it all, he makes sure to point out that first and foremost, America will be the sole military superpower. But of course, don't dare accuse these birds of promoting rampant imperialism.
