BY RUSSELL TURNER
THE VIRTUES OF GRIDLOCK
As I look at all of the problems that our nation faces, they would be a whole lot worse if it had not been for the common sense and the patriotism of our founders. Our system of government was designed with a system of checks and balances that would prevent any one group from gaining too much power.
I have witnessed Americans complain about gridlock and demand that everyone join hands and sing about making the world a better place. While the idea of such a world may seem appealing, joining hands and singing songs very seldom work. Politics is a full contact sport and it is not for the faint of heart. Far too many citizens in our country wish to use government as a means to gain favors or money from the public treasury for their personal use. We humans, whether we like to admit it or not, are selfish creatures. I have found that there is never a shortage of politicians that will promise anything just to get elected. Anytime any legislation is authored that benefits any group or that puts an unfair burden or expense on the population at large, it is the duty of politicians who cherish liberty and freedom to oppose such legislation.
Gridlock can be a tool that protects us from bad ideas or flawed legislation. Before we start complaining too much about gridlock, maybe we should take a lesson from history. While many Americans have the mis-guided idea that our system of government is a democracy, they couldn’t be more wrong. The founders of this nation gave us a republic from of government, where we are governed by the rule of law and not by the mob. Even men such as Karl Marx, the father of communism, could see the flaw in a democracy. He said, “Democracy is a form of government that cannot long survive, for as soon as the people learn that they have a voice in the fiscal policies of the government, they will move to vote for themselves all of the money in the treasury, and bankrupt the nation.” Does that quote remind you of today’s political environment?
Our government was never meant to be a system where there would not be any disagreement or struggles. My mother gave me some insight about being married that applies to government functions. She said, “Anytime you see a married couple that never has any troubles or disagreements, usually one of them is imposing their will upon the other and the other is allowing themselves to be dominated.”
We Americans also allow the mainstream news media (who I have little respect for) to influence their viewers that gridlock is a terrible thing. I believe that gridlock should be avoided when possible, but we need to remember that gridlock can prevent bad laws and regulations from being imposed upon our citizens.
THE VIRTUES OF GRIDLOCK
As I look at all of the problems that our nation faces, they would be a whole lot worse if it had not been for the common sense and the patriotism of our founders. Our system of government was designed with a system of checks and balances that would prevent any one group from gaining too much power.
I have witnessed Americans complain about gridlock and demand that everyone join hands and sing about making the world a better place. While the idea of such a world may seem appealing, joining hands and singing songs very seldom work. Politics is a full contact sport and it is not for the faint of heart. Far too many citizens in our country wish to use government as a means to gain favors or money from the public treasury for their personal use. We humans, whether we like to admit it or not, are selfish creatures. I have found that there is never a shortage of politicians that will promise anything just to get elected. Anytime any legislation is authored that benefits any group or that puts an unfair burden or expense on the population at large, it is the duty of politicians who cherish liberty and freedom to oppose such legislation.
Gridlock can be a tool that protects us from bad ideas or flawed legislation. Before we start complaining too much about gridlock, maybe we should take a lesson from history. While many Americans have the mis-guided idea that our system of government is a democracy, they couldn’t be more wrong. The founders of this nation gave us a republic from of government, where we are governed by the rule of law and not by the mob. Even men such as Karl Marx, the father of communism, could see the flaw in a democracy. He said, “Democracy is a form of government that cannot long survive, for as soon as the people learn that they have a voice in the fiscal policies of the government, they will move to vote for themselves all of the money in the treasury, and bankrupt the nation.” Does that quote remind you of today’s political environment?
Our government was never meant to be a system where there would not be any disagreement or struggles. My mother gave me some insight about being married that applies to government functions. She said, “Anytime you see a married couple that never has any troubles or disagreements, usually one of them is imposing their will upon the other and the other is allowing themselves to be dominated.”
We Americans also allow the mainstream news media (who I have little respect for) to influence their viewers that gridlock is a terrible thing. I believe that gridlock should be avoided when possible, but we need to remember that gridlock can prevent bad laws and regulations from being imposed upon our citizens.
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