Have we really experienced a “stellar” economic recovery since Obama
became our President, or is the rhetoric a distraction from a more sinister
truth? Before I share my thoughts, let
me refresh your lessons on American history.
What do the terms “liberal”, “progressive” and “eugenics” have in
common? For those not completely
familiar with eugenics, here is a brief definition: “A set of
beliefs and practices that aims at improving the genetic quality of
the human population. It is
a social
philosophy advocating the improvement of human genetic traits through the promotion of higher rates of sexual
reproduction for people with desired traits
(positive eugenics), or reduced rates of sexual reproduction and sterilization of people with less-desired or undesired traits
(negative eugenics), or both.” (Think of
the holocaust.) There were numerous
politicians (both Republican and Democrat) and well-known public figures who
identified themselves as “progressives” and who also endorsed the principles of
eugenics, including Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood. The term “progressive” fell out of favor with
its adherents and was replaced by “liberal” when the world realized, through
Adolph Hitler, it was possible to take eugenics to an unthinkable extreme,
i.e., who would be the arbiter of what is desired or undesired. The point is, today’s “liberals” are really yesterday’s
“progressives”, wolves in sheep’s clothing, and they had some very radical
perspectives regarding our constitution and social engineering back in the late
1800’s and up to World War II.
Progressives, such as Woodrow Wilson, our 28th
President, were convinced the responsibility for governing a nation should be
delegated to appointed “administrative agencies” staffed exclusively with those
who had earned university degrees (some actually suggested that universities
should become the fourth leg of our government). The “progressives” didn’t believe legislatures,
courts or political parties could properly lead and manage a nation such as
ours. They also believed the constitution
was “organic”, that is, subject to interpretation by each generation as the
culture evolved. They preferred a
governmental model called “statism” wherein the government, through “administrative
agencies”, takes a more active, comprehensive role in the day-to-day affairs of
its citizens. They believed the defined “rights” of the constitution should also
include such things as education, healthcare, housing, employment, income and
recreation. The problem for the “progressives”
was our constitution – it made it extremely difficult to change our
governmental system.
World War I handed the “progressives” a
gift. They quickly learned when the
people feel threatened or fearful, they demand more government intervention for
their safety and welfare. The war didn’t
last long enough for the “progressives” to gain a foothold but then came the great
depression, and the real gift they had been looking for. Remember, their objective was the management
and control of the people and the people’s behavior by “administrative agencies”;
solving the crisis of the depression was an objective but not a priority. Here was a chance to permanently install the
agencies of change.