Have you noticed how bitter
liberals are at their electoral defeat?
They not only expected to win; they felt entitled to do so. They have, as a result, been the sorest of
sore losers. As this is being written,
they are plotting ways to make sure Donald Trump does not enjoy the traditional
presidential honeymoon.
Across the nation, Trump is
being attacked as a fascist and terrorist.
His victory is described as illegitimate; hence rioters felt free to
vent their spleens. Meanwhile, calls for
his assassination have been heard, members of the Electoral College urged to
break their faith, and voter recounts pursued.
Can you recall any
post-election this vituperative? When
have Republicans acted this spitefully?
Both of the Bushes left office gracefully. Their supporters were disappointed, but they
resigned themselves to defeat. Gerald
Ford and his allies were also good losers.
They had doubts about Jimmy Carter, but were not about to destroy the
nation on this account.
Nor can I remember a
precedent for Barack Obama’s behavior.
He has gone on what amounts to an “I was really a great President”
tour. Both at home and abroad, he elucidated,
in mendacious detail, why he was not responsible for his party’s loss and urged
the new chief executive to continue his policies.
Obama has been known for
taking undeserved victory laps. Now he
assures us that his personal popularity is proof his two terms in office were
triumphs. According to him, he saved us
from a depression and single-handedly rescued America’s international reputation.
But contemplate how much
worse off we actually are. ObamaCare is
in a death spiral. ISIS terrorism remains
with us. The Iran deal gave an
implacable foe cover for terrorism and the right to acquire nuclear weapons. As for the economy, it has never grown at
more than 2 percent.
Nonetheless, this is par for
the course for liberal administrations.
On their watch educational achievement has plummeted, crime rates have
risen, and the welfare roles have swollen.
Despite their big promises about equality and justice, these were never kept.
Nor is this a recent
development. Liberalism can lay claim to a century of
failure. Virtually everything
progressives have touched has turned to dross.
Lest we forget, it was Woodrow Wilson who brought segregation to our
nation’s capital, Franklin Roosevelt who lengthened the Great Depression,
Lyndon Johnson who lost the War on Poverty, and Jimmy Carter who gave us the
Great Inflation.
If asked about their
achievements, liberals generally cite Social Security, Medicare and
Medicaid. But even these are in actuarial
trouble. What is more, Democratic attainments
in civil rights owe as much to Republicans as themselves. After all, it was the Dixiecrats who opposed
voting legislation and Nixon who introduced affirmative action.
Why then are liberals so sour? Why have they gone ballistic over their
current defeat? They have had setbacks before
and recovered. Nor is it because Trump
has egregiously misbehaved. If anything,
his cabinet choices demonstrate a sincere intention to reinstate conservative
principles.
Nonetheless, this is the
problem. If Trump is successful, it
might finally dawn on voters that neo-socialist promises are a fraud. Blacks and Hispanics might realize that conservative
policies, if given a chance, would leave them better off. So might the blue collar workers at the historic
heart of the Democratic coalition.
With Obama in office and the
mainstream media guarding his flanks, liberals were able to disguise the depth
of their failures. They were able to
claim that no one could have done better in protecting our economy and national
security.
What will they do if these
hyperbolic pretensions are exposed?
Already people have grown tired of identity politics and political
correctness. Ordinary Americans are fatigued
by the lies and angered by the perpetual unfairness. Many long for a return to the old verities.
If Trump delivers on these,
liberalism might conclusively be discredited.
Implementation of an American Dream that actually provides opportunity,
liberty, and integrity may, in fact, reduce the prevailing cynicism. If so, neo-Marxism could go into a fatal
decline. No wonder progressives are
worried.
Melvyn L. Fein, Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology
Kennesaw State University
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