February 10, 2014 | techno
Since we are approaching Valentine's Day I thought I would post on the
subject of happiness, specifically the pursuit of happiness. Think about it:
what is romantic love if it is not about the pursuit of happiness?
However, I intend to look at the idea of the pursuit of happiness through a
political lens, specifically through the federal lens of the Democrats and
liberals on one side and the Republicans and conservatives on the other side.
Before I state my premise I want to assert that in politics or in war, the
dream goal of any army is to outflank the opposing army on both sides, using a
pincer movement to encircle the enemy and cause its eventual surrender or
annihilation if it can be achieved. Isn't that what the Democrats have been
doing to the Republicans since really the 2006 midterm elections (perhaps 2010
is an exception to the rule) and actually a case can be made that this reality
has dominated the political landscape since 1992, since the Republicans have
only won the popular vote once in the past six presidential elections.
I would argue that the Democrats have outflanked our side in two respects: On
the issue of LIFE where single women consistently have voted massively for
Clinton or Obama. A stat which did not get much airing in the last election: In
2008 single women represented 15% of the electorate; in 2012, 23%. In 2008 69%
of single ladies voted for Obama; in 2012-67%. Now you might ask why? Voter
intensity. For Republicans to compete against the Left on the issue of LIFE is
frankly political suicide as has been proven for the last twenty years. The Dems
never have any problem mobilizing their base on the issue of abortion.
And on our other flank the Democrats have outflanked our side on the issue of
LIBERTY. All you have to do is to look at how free America was before 1992 under
Reagan and how oppressive and onerous the laws are now and how intrusive they
are into your daily lives including what kind of toilet paper or light bulb you
have to use. And the Left and the radical environmentalists have used global
warming, green energy programs and the demonization of the petroleum industry to
sell the American people it will have to accept less liberty (along with a lower
standard of living) if we are to save the planet for future generations. And
much of that loss of liberty means paying higher taxes and restricting what
Americans can do in their daily lives. Everything since 2001 is on a tighter
leash now and the government with the onset of Obamacare is going to know more
about every American than the Founding Fathers ever felt necessary. When I grew
up I was told by my parents when I concerned myself too much about the affairs
of other people 'to mind my own business'. It's funny we don't hear that
expression very much any more. Instead being nosy has become a virtue in the
21st century.
Republicans and conservatives aren't stupid. They know over the past
generation both Democratic and Republican presidents and members of Congress
have contributed to this loss or erosion of freedom. All Republican and
conservative candidates can do now is to spout platitudes on liberty. They now
sound like hypocrites. As the old saying goes, I may be dumb, but I'm not blind.
But any army who is subject to a pincer movement is always looking for a
breakout point or a vulnerability in the encirclement. Here is my premise:
Republicans must acknowledge it will continue to have a difficult time winning
national elections in the future while the Left dominates on the issues of life
and liberty and instead should build their entire political strategy in 2014 and
2016 on THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. That needs to be our breakout strategy.
Think about it: It is the one area where the Democrats and the Left are most
vulnerable. Do Leftists ever smile? Are they happy people? Look at them closely.
Most of them are sour-pusses. Did you know collectivists believe no individual
American has a right to pursue their own happiness if the collective (groups
that have been victimized whose wrongs need to be addressed)remains unhappy. As
Alinsky put it, Leftists need to rub raw the sores of discontent and galvanize
them for radical social change. Folks, when you are constantly in a political
struggle and agitating, I would argue it's virtually impossible for those folks
who are involved in the struggle to pursue their own individual happiness while
part of this collective. The ideas are totally incompatible. For Leftists, their
individual happiness for the most part is measured by the achievement of group
goals.
I am not going to get into the definition of happiness and pursuit of
happiness but I do believe our side has an excellent opportunity to tap into a
segment of the population whose needs are not being addressed.
I'll give you an example where both parties missed the boat on an unexplored
political segment. Did you know 8-15% of the world's population is left-handed?
For the sake of simplicity let's assume that for the USA. And for most of the
world including America before WWII it was considered a negative trait.
But as far as I know before WWII no political party made a conscious effort
to target the votes of left-handed people. And did you know that left-handed
people since the beginning of time to relatively recently have had to endure
discrimination of some type which usually involved people of authority literally
forcing students to write right-handed or be subject to corporal punishment.
There were also old wives tales that all homosexuals were left-handed. Was a
political party back then scared they were going to lose right-handed voters by
embracing left-handed voters? If they were I've never read about it.
Do you think that in most presidential elections held after the Civil War up
to WWII that left-handed people if they voted as a bloc could have swung several
close elections?
Now you might ask what strategy would you employ to attract left-handed
voters?
Gee, would it make sense to acknowledge that left-handed people are OK, that
they shouldn't be discriminated against, and they would be welcome in the GOP?
Even if the Dems follow suit you can always argue you were the trendsetter.
So what percentage of Americans believe in the concept of the individual
pursuit of happiness. I have no figures but a lot more than you would ever
imagine. Enough voters to cause a tectonic shift in the political landscape. And
how do you attract these voters? By telling them it is OK for them to pursue
their own happiness regardless of government policy or what is happening in
society, that individuals who pursue their own happiness should not be
discriminated against, and that the GOP would welcome individuals who pursue
their own happiness to their tent, assuming they can legally vote.
As for illegal immigrants, they have every right to pursue their own
happiness in their country of origin but our government has the right to deport
them if they choose to pursue their happiness in America.
Yes, The GOP would be branded by the media as "the happiness party." But
would that be so bad? Consider the names that the GOP has been called in the
past and the Republican brand: If a survey was done strictly of independents of
what adjective would best characterize Republicans and conservatives, happy or
unhappy, I bet the majority would say unhappy. How do you change that
characterization? By declaring you believe in the pursuit of happiness and
declare your party platform will be built around the idea.
Now once the Republican party and conservatives do that then the question
will be in what context does our side believe one should be allowed to pursue
his or her own happiness and what limits or constraints if any should be imposed
by government?
Here are 10 suggestions:
1)Adult men and women who are capable and not permanently incapacitated (18
or older) equally are entitled to pursue their own happiness regardless of
social pressures to conform or the authoritarian desires or principles of the
federal or state governments. There is nothing wrong being an iconoclast or
unconventional.
The GOP should consistently provide moral support to private initiatives
which facilitate individuals to fulfill their human potential (eg. Hillsdale
College) and believe it is a God-given right for them to take the opportunity to
do so. However, the GOP should not penalize any individual who chooses not to
pursue their happiness as part of society. (You have every right to pursue your
happiness if you want to become a hermit.) By the same token, we believe the
government should be completely neutral and not seek to intervene or interfere
one way or another. Finally with every action there is a reaction. You may be
pursuing your happiness driving drunk but you are also breaking the law and
deserve to be punished. This is a key distinction: to support the right to
become drunk but to condemn the action of driving drunk.
Or to put it another way, we support the 2nd Amendment as a way an individual
can pursue his or her happiness owning weapons but condemn any wanton act of
violence with a weapon.
Now when it comes to the use of drugs, here is where I would draw the line:
Grow or cultivate the product for your own use to pursue your own happiness but
you have no right under God to peddle drugs to make other users eventually
unhappy by them becoming addicted to your product and you profiting by that
addiction. Let them pursue their own happiness like you have.
And if a person want to grow pot so he/she can medically benefit from and
pursue his/her happiness (lower pain or suffering) what is wrong with that?
2)Government cannot help or should not try to help anybody to pursue one's
own happiness. That is not the role of government. And our side should pound the
theme that a welfare check does not give anyone the incentive to pursue their
own happiness but rather the opportunity to tread water or to stew in their own
vomit.
3)If a woman believes she is pursuing her happiness by having an abortion,
then I believe as a society we should NOT interfere with her plans, but by the
same token the government has no business funding Planned Parenthood or paying
for abortions with taxpayer dollars. Let a woman pursue her happiness on her own
dime.
In the same vein if a person chooses to take his or her own life (through an
assisted suicide) and pursue their happiness in this manner, they should have
every right to do so.
4)To admit the pursuit of happiness is an extremely important element in
first finding love and then cementing the relationship and that individuals
should be encouraged to pursue their happiness through a loving relationship if
that is their choice.
And the GOP should not restrict the definition to a man and a woman (both
consenting adults). A loving relationship is a loving relationship. And that
also extends to marriage.
But where the GOP could make a major breakthrough with single folks is to
acknowledge that millions of singles are either not ready or have no desire to
pursue their happiness through a loving relationship and that they have every
right to do so even if they pursue "swinging" or Narcissistic lifestyles which
fundamentally conflict with those who are married or older.
Again this is a case of supporting the right but condemning the the results
of the action (celebrities entering rehab)
5)Brilliant men and women are the happiest when they are pursuing their own
happiness through their creative juices/business endeavors. Government has no
business meddling in these endeavors citing the public good. Bureaucrats who
prevent these men and women from exercising their geniuses because of a
political agenda are pure evil. Read Atlas Shrugged for more on this theme.
6) Focus on the Declaration of Independence and Jefferson's claim that
Americans are endowed by their Creator with an inalienable right to pursue one's
happiness. This will really separate the wheat from the chaff. RINO's will out
themselves if they oppose Jefferson or God.
7)Develop government policies and support and change laws to encourage the
individual pursuit of happiness. This would entail government stepping aside and
being like the rest of us, interested spectators not referees.
8)Promote the idea a man or a woman should strive to be the best he or she
can be while pursuing one's own happiness and that the journey is more important
than the destination.
America became exceptional because men and women of yesteryear were allowed
to pursue their dreams over an extended period of time. They knew Rome wasn't
built in a day. The Left acts like Utopia is just around the corner.
Critics will cite slavery as a major period of American history where Black
people were not able to pursue their happiness. The Dems would argue A/A need to
pursue their happiness at the expense of the white man or woman while our side
should advance the idea whatever your color you have every right to pursue your
own happiness under present day circumstances. This is 2014 not 1850.
A God-given right exists regardless of what has happened in the past. It
cannot be abrogated by government or by man.
9)Explain that the pursuit of happiness comes with no guarantees. Incumbent
on pursuing your happiness is to develop a game plan or a strategy, having a
strong desire and determination to succeed and never giving up. Still you could
fail. But there is nothing wrong with failing while pursuing your happiness. You
learn from your mistakes and trial and error. You could find out on your second
or third try what you're good in and then you'll be able to pursue your
happiness to your heart's delight.
10)For individuals to pursue their happiness to the max, a low tax regime
with little red tape is necessary. Incumbent in pursuing your own happiness is
having the means/capital to do so and expecting to be rewarded. There must be a
potential jackpot waiting at the end of the rainbow or the existence of a
long-term incentive that cannot be terminated by regulation or law. Would anyone
invest in a worthless piece of ground if there was no potential for profit on
the land? This idea needs to be explained to voters. Capitalism works if the
government allows it to work.
Think about it: What is the one common denominator present in politics in
2014?
One word: UNHAPPINESS (by a hell of a lot of disgruntled voters, especially
because of Obamacare)
Imagine a GOP politician standing up in front of an audience and saying:
I am running for office and before I decided to run for office I pursued my
own happiness the best way I knew how. I have pursued my happiness through my
marriage to my wife and she has pursued her own happiness with me through our
union; we have three decent children who we have taught they also have a
God-given right to pursue their own individual happiness apart from us when they
become adults.
Ladies and gentlemen, I believe each one of you in the audience has a
God-given right to pursue your own happiness too. Notice I didn't say you have a
right to be happy. There is a key distinction here.
The Left has it all wrong. No government, politician or bureaucrat can wave a
magic wand and make you happy. And that goes for any external or cultural
influence. You may feel ecstatic at seeing your team win the World Series but
the emotion doesn't last, did it? That kind of happiness is fleeting and not the
kind of happiness I'm referring to.
Pursuing your own happiness as a God-given right implies you are pursuing
something of lasting value or of significant importance to you at the time.
Let me now say I will never judge any of you on whether your pursuit or dream
has merit. As a human being I have no right to judge another man's pursuit of
happiness and as an aspiring politician I already have enough on my plate
without looking into the hearts and minds of men and women.
But I will say you have every right to pursue your happiness as you see fit
but the government has a right to prosecute you if you break the law.
A father may cross in the middle of a busy thoroughfare to save his son from
being run over (his pursuit of happiness) while breaking the traffic code. If
the city wants to prosecute him for holding up traffic it has every legal right
to do so. But the man has all my respect in the world for thinking enough of his
son to endanger his own life.
The pursuit of happiness is a right that President Obama and I have differing
views on: the President believes each American has to adjust or temper his/her
own individual standards or values of pursuing happiness to the current
political and social landscape and consider becoming more altruistic especially
paying higher taxes and losing one's former health care provider while I believe
it is a right that no man has a right to seek to undermine or dilute. The right
is absolute because it was endowed by God. Jefferson got it right President
Obama. In your own words this idea is above your pay grade. You have no right to
tell any American how he or she must pursue his or her happiness. With all due
respect sir, butt out!
DIOGENES invites you to pull up a chair on this fine day and read posts from around the world. The writing may lean to the right...but that's the way Diogenes wants it! You may leave your opinion, but Diogenes rarely changes his! WELCOME!
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