One hundred and fifty years ago on Tuesday half of America went to war with the other half.
The men on both sides were incredibly similar. Both armies were largely made up of conservative, white, Protestant, males. Both sides believed in capitalism, gun ownership and the military, individual responsibility for one’s station in life, manifest destiny, being engaged in politics, extremely limited government power and spending, and government power being concentrated at the local and state level. They only really disagreed about one issue, slavery.
Fast forward to 2011: Today we also live in a divided nation. Our current division is over absolutely every issue. The right believes in capitalism, small government, the rule of law, individual responsibility, the end of entitlements, sealing the borders from illegal immigration, and patriotism.
The left believes in socialism to varying degrees, government solutions to every problem, rule by the whim of the majority, rights without responsibility, redistribution of wealth through entitlements, letting in unlimited numbers of illegals (a.k.a. undocumented Democrats), and powerful world government and international law.
The conservatives live in the suburbs and the country while the leftists mainly live in the cities. The two sides hold opposite opinions on social issues, bedroom issues, and education issues as well.
I don’t think the left and the rights could agree on the color of rice. There is no middle ground. The right, by and large, holds the traditional American view point on most issues. To be honest, the left is the side that has changed radically over time.
It is difficult to be to be slightly leftist (slightly socialist) and not move further to the left as time goes on. Many on the left are not true believers in Marxism, but they have a vested financial interest in using the democratic process to loot wealth from the successful citizens in our society.
Whether the Democrat leaders are buying votes with tax-funded transfer payments or their loser constituents are selling their vote for a Treasury check, it is still looting and bribery.
On the right some lobby for corporate welfare, military contracts, and other special treatment. But for the most part the people on the right wish to be left alone to live free. So in the end the two sides are fighting over the Democrats’ ability to bribe their constituents with other people’s money.
This difference of opinion is increasingly taking on an angry, emotional aspect. I know that I am angry as hell about our current fiscal situation. Politics is getting dirtier. There is no reconciling the opposing opinions, no middle ground.
Given that one issue drove us to arms in the Civil War, is there any hope that we can avoid a fight in the near future?
Yes, I know that Americans are much more fat, lazy, and complacent today. Also their honor and principles are not necessarily as indispensably important to them anymore. But I think continuing or worsening economic conditions will force people to get off their butts and act.
What form will the civil war take? Militias forming into armies and marching off like in 1861? Or perhaps an “Atlas Shrugged” style strike by the industrialists and entrepreneurs of society? Maybe the rich and influential will move themselves, their businesses, and their capital overseas causing further economic collapse?
It wouldn’t be much of a civil war given that most of the people on the left are too lazy, incompetent, and ignorant to get organized. One way or another, the insanity and fiscal disaster that is our socialized democracy will end. Let’s hope it does not end too badly.
Bill Gilmer
Fayetteville, Ga.
