Political Hay
Bring Us Together
The Democratic habit of mob rule — from Woodstock to Mario Cuomo to Obamacare.
(Page 2 of 2)
Everybody’s been celebrating Woodstock this weekend and as the primal gathering of peace, love and harmony — and it was indeed perhaps the most orderly, tolerant, and good-natured mob in history. All the “freaks” of the 1960s suddenly found themselves in like company and a moment of cultural self-recognition. The good vibes lasted for three whole days and became the founding event of a counterculture that still believes the world can live in greater peace and harmony.
But mobs get restless, even in the best of circumstances. It was only four months after Woodstock that an ad hoc police force of Hell’s Angels killed a crazed gunman at Altamont. After that, free outdoor concerts quickly degenerated into unruly events that often ended in violence. Notice they don’t give them anymore, either. When Bruce Springsteen plays the Meadowlands, he charges $75 a head and up.
And so, in the healthcare debate, the time has come to draw the line between universal brotherhood and individual responsibility. Bring us together, Mr. President, but leave us room to lead our own personal lives as well.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (41) | Leave a comment
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Darin| 8.18.09 @ 7:06AM
The key is personal responsibility.
It's not the government's job to provide for your needs. It's YOUR job. Government should ensure equal opportunity within reason, but that must not be confused with equal outcome.
There's a passage in the Bible which says if a man will not work, he should not eat. Note it's "will not," not "can not." Someone sick or disabled should be helped, but that should be done by others, not by the government. The welfare state is one of the worst things for this country because it relieves people of their responsibility both to themselves and their fellow man.
Phil DiFebo| 8.18.09 @ 9:17AM
I had nearly forgotten Mario until I read the article. He of the towering rhetoric and the famous "Mom and Pop" speech showed this writer what he was made of when he failed to come back HARD at Billy Clinton after the latter's conversation with Gennifer Flowers became public. Remember Clinton's reference to the Mafia?
Mario was and probably remains a cafone of the first order.
Steve G| 8.18.09 @ 9:54AM
Cuomo was completely ruled by his emotions. I remember a TV debate with Cuomo as one of the participants on some arcane economic subject in which the other participant made a strong and logical point (about money policy or some such). Cuomo's reply was a strong emotional appeal to something that was so off topic and so much louder that the other participant was left speechless. So, Cuomo claimed victory in the debate. It's like always winning a debate on economics, or the cost of living, or over regulation, or anything else for that matter by claiming in response, "What about the starving people in China?" Well, what about em? Only in a true liberal's mind would that kind of emotional question trump all that preceded it and WIN the debate.
PolishKnight| 8.18.09 @ 9:56AM
The best way to sum up the Democrat agenda of "bringing people together" is good ol' scapegoating: Promise lots of goodies to different groups by robbing them from some unpopular group. We all know who that group is (Sotomayor didn't even bother putting on pretenses about it.) At the same time, as their promises fail (as they inevitably do), they blame the aforementioned group for that too with success. Lather, rinse, repeat.
It's amazing how the greed of these Democrat voters causes them to overlook them often being used as a scapegoat by the same Democrat politicians to another group the same day. Consider Murtha's remarks that his constituents are a bunch of racist, stupid hicks. He got re-elected anyway.
Eric Damon| 8.18.09 @ 9:58AM
'Insufferable co-pays'? Is Red Nanny P-Lousy in a mental ward? Hellfire and damnation, co-pays are one of the great things about what insurance do in the private sector! My family is covered by BCBS of Texas, even though we live in NC, through my wife at Dell, Inc. We have full health and dental coverage, and I would not change a thing about it; we have no co-pay for our regular dental visits, $20 for regular doctors visits, and a one time $25 co-pay at any specialist we have to see. You can't beat that with a bat! I would rather pay that $20-25 out of pocket than be in a government run system and denied the services that I want, with a doctor truly of my choosing!
Curly Smith| 8.18.09 @ 10:05AM
"...and the national welfare reform engineered by President Clinton and Congress"
The Welfare Reform was engineered by the Republican (and at that point Conservative) Congress and forced on Clinton. Clinton vetoed the measure twice before finally signing it, and to this day the Democrats run on a campaign of "overturning welfare reform".
You can read the sorry story here: http://rpc.senate.gov/releases/1999/wf080599.htm
Bilwick| 8.18.09 @ 10:49AM
Don't you see? It doesn't matter that Cuomo is/was an economics ignoramus. He cares! Compassion uber alles--especially when it's exercised at someone else's expense.
JerseyJ| 8.18.09 @ 11:27AM
Darin ... "The welfare state is one of the worst things for this country because it relieves people of their responsibility both to themselves and their fellow man. "
It's actually so much worse than simply relieving people of their responsibility. The welfare state actually forces reliance and traps people into abandoning their personal responsibility. Granted not in every case, but in a large portion. Consider someone on the various "Welfare" programs who would be willing to work but the work they find pays them less than they collect on the various Welfare programs. Taking the job would make them ineligible for Welfare, food stamps and medicaid ... essentially cutting their income if they work. They're trapped, or at the very least disincentivised from work, and become dependent on electing those that will continue to provide them with these programs.
Peter McGrath| 8.18.09 @ 11:55AM
My pastor evokes this image.
Imagine, on the west coast, perhaps on one of those small islands in San Francisco bay, as a counter-part to the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, the nation erected a "Statue of Responsibility."
If our nation is to survive, Americans must learn that they will not enjoy freedom for long without exercising responsibility.
When government takes responsibility, by necessity it takes away our freedom.
Alan Brooks| 8.18.09 @ 12:49PM
It was 40 years ago. '69.
That's when people began to be liberated, when they could 'find themselves'. And if they eventually found they weren't the people they wanted to be and were stuck with the selves they didn't know what to do with, then tough luck. You're on your own, they said, in a new world where only imaginary rules existed. Before '69, people were bound by silly, outmoded, Victorian, civilized mores. Then, after '68, you could shed your old self, and your clothing in the bargain. It filtered down to the grassroots. On Sesame Street, Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog disrobed; even the Cookie Monster would take it all off, but only after you gave him a few cookies. '69 was the year of 'Oh Calcutta!' and 'I Am Curious Yellow', both of which would merely warrant R ratings today. Today restraint is gone and you have to say, "I'm no prude", just like you say you're no racist as quickly as you can.
Tom Wolfe described what Beatles' fans did at concerts 45 years ago, they were in reality screaming "me, me, look at Me! TAKE ME!". Just a few years later, in '69, exhibitionism began to be normed. Dancers stomped around stoned in front of a crowd.
"I will have a psychedelic gleam in my eye at all times", wrote Frank Zappa of the era. Smoking marijuana almost became mandatory in '69. Grow your hair and smoke marijuana. At Woodstock they thought they would take over the world so everyone could smoke marijuana, roll in the mud, and listen to ear-piercing three chord Rock and Roll played by an unending stream of musicians, some of whom had talent. Activist John Sinclair wrote a book titled with unintentional humor, 'Guitar Army'.
On TV, being irreverent became the In-Thing in '69. You could insult any institution or persons, except TV executives. I mean, let's not carry things too far.
We don't want to undermine the social order, now do we?
Woodstock people don't give it away anymore-- they are well off, rolling not in the mud at Yasgur's Farm, but in the dough on Main Street.
gill.Oteen07041776@gmail.com| 8.18.09 @ 2:16PM
obumassiah will bring us all together. We will be his slaves.
We already have a single-payer system. The American taxpayer. Be sure to thank one today!
Gill O’Teen ✝✡
gill.Oteen07041776@gmail.com
Don’t Tread on Me!!
whyyeseyec| 8.18.09 @ 2:18PM
Reply to Peter McGrath: There is no responsibility in San Francisco or California.
This state has been run into the ground by marxist dems for decades, voted into office by ignornant self-indulgent ninnies wanting something for nothing.....
Mattled| 8.18.09 @ 3:37PM
I remember watching the Cuomo keynote in 1984. I was an International Studies, Eastern Europe Major.
My brother, who is quite older called me the next day to catch up.
He asked me if I had watched our illustrious Gov on TV (we are from NY).
I said yes. My brother asked me what I thought.
I replied he sounded a lot like the guys I was studying at the time----Lenin and Stalin!
He laughed and said he didn't think of it at the time, but yeah, maybe he (Cuomo) did sound a little like those other two.
Colin | 8.18.09 @ 4:45PM
If this New York hack had ever graduated from the seminary - he'd have probably been tagged with the handle ... Mario the Pious.
Then again, wasn't his favorite line was ... Kiss My Ring? Or parts further south??
Patty| 8.18.09 @ 6:25PM
Amen to Darin who I see was up early. We have become a nation of people with their hands out. I am 70 and was brought up with work ethics, my children and grandkids the same way. do your chores then have a meal. No ifs ands or buts. Very simple.
sestamibi| 8.18.09 @ 6:32PM
"Bring Us Together": not just for Democrats any more (if in fact it ever was)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bring_Us_Together
Ralph Averill| 8.18.09 @ 7:25PM
Please! Enough trashing liberal Democrats for a living! What do you propose? What's your idea? (Do NOT say let the "free market" prevail. We've all had enough of that for a while. There never was, or will be, a "free market".) The last Republican administration left everything it touched a mess. The six year Republican majority in Congress showed themselves incapable of governing. The country is in shambles and all conservatives can do is trash Obama and disrupt town hall meeting where a serious conversation, and debate, desperately needs to take place, and all conservative media can do is trash talk Obama and all liberals. Shame on all of you!
Big J| 8.18.09 @ 7:28PM
Amen to YOU, Miss Patty:
You are a part of the last great generation, brought up in a time where you worked hard for what you had, and that wasn't much.
I'll tell you: I would rather spend my waking hours with men and women twice my age. Not talking, but listening. That simple, no nonsense common sense is just what the doctor ordered.
Do your chores.
Respect your elders.
Open the door for the ladies.
Work hard.
Enjoy life a little along the way.
So simple, yet so rare these days.
Bless you and your fellow elders, Miss Patty.
Marc Jeric| 8.18.09 @ 7:36PM
Ortega y Gasset was a genius. Say there is a famine - hurricanes have destroyed the wheat fields. Not enough bread - bakeries raise prices. What do the communists do? Burn down the bakeries and those cruel profiteers! And then take absolute power; the defunct USSR (thanks RR) had to import American wheat for 50 years - you know, bad climate!
J G| 8.18.09 @ 8:10PM
Many years ago I was in NY and heard Cuomo's radio program. I don't remember much of it now but I do remember him constantly referring to those "lucky enough" to have some money, or those "lucky enough" to have a well paying job, etc, etc. It never dawned on him that luck had nothing to do with it. Those folks worked hard to get what they had and he attributed it to luck about a dozen times in the 30 minutes or so I listened.
DR| 8.18.09 @ 9:48PM
The great irony is that the Great Uniter, AKA Barack Hussein Obama, will be the one who ultimately causes the greatest division among Americans since the Civil War. He who was elected largely because he was black and could supposedly unite the races actually was a very persistent player of the race card. He claims, even now, to be bipartisan, to reach across the aisle, while at the same time bullying his opponents. His idea of bipartisanship is "You do things my way, or I will punish you." After a few years of his behavior, so many Americans will push away and refuse to support any concept of uniting, fearing more dishonesty and more being used shamelessly, as Obama is giving them.
John Mutchler| 8.18.09 @ 10:35PM
You are right, DR. Obama has played ALL of his cards already, and stands at the poker table with a hand of cards that we all know. He can't bluff any more. He has no chips left and it's his turn to bid. This farce of a president doesn't have years left to make his mark. He has months at best, for his civil war has already begun and the likelihood that it will turn red through violence is growing daily. He doesn't want to stop it; he's a true child of the dialectic: revolt, revolt, revolting!
Seek| 8.19.09 @ 1:47AM
Note to Alan Brooks: Frank Zappa was adamantly anti-drug from the start. And he had far more musical talent than any Red State culture-war hero.
S.L. Toddard| 8.19.09 @ 2:22PM
Obama is the presidential candidate who promised to end the war in Iraq. He hasn’t. But he has escalated the war in Afghanistan, started a new war in Pakistan, intends to repeat the Yugoslav scenario in the Caucasus and appears determined to start a war in South America. In response to the acceptance by U.S. puppet president of Columbia, Alvaro Uribe, of seven U.S. military bases in Columbia, Venezuela warned South American countries that the “winds of war are beginning to blow.”
Here we have the U.S. government, totally dependent on the generosity of foreigners to finance its red ink, which extends in large quantities as far as the eye can see, completely under the thumb of the military/security complex, which will destroy us all in order to meet Wall Street share price expectations.
Why does any American care who rules Afghanistan? The country has nothing to do with us.
Did the armed services committees of the House and Senate calculate the risk of destabilizing nuclear-armed Pakistan when they acquiesced to Obama’s new war there, a war that has already displaced 2 million Pakistanis?
No, of course not. The whores took their orders from the same military/security oligarchy that instructed Obama.
The great American superpower and its 300 million people are being driven straight into the ground by the narrow interest of the big banks and the munitions industry. People, and not only Americans, are losing their sons, husbands, brothers and fathers for no other reason than the profits of U.S. armaments corporations. And the gullible American people seem proud of it. Those ribbon decals on their cars, SUVs and monster trucks proclaim their naive loyalty to the armaments industries and to the whores in Washington who promote wars.
Will Americans, smashed and destroyed by “their” government’s policy, which always puts Americans last, ever learn more about their real enemies?
Will Americans realize that they are not ruled by elected representatives, but by an oligarchy that owns the Washington whorehouse?
Will Americans ever understand that they are impotent serfs?
http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/index.php/2009/08/19/americans-serfs-ruled-by-oligarchs/
S.L. Toddard| 8.19.09 @ 2:30PM
I wonder whether America would be much better off if her citizens developed a healthier sense of irony. For instance: people who voted twice for George W Bush decrying the unchecked expansion of the federal gov't, reckless spending and the danger posed to Liberty by a government unrestrained by a Constitution it has trampled into the dirt.
Where the hell were you people the last eight years?
Alan Brooks| 8.19.09 @ 7:33PM
seek,
the reason I mentioned Zappa was because he was antidrug.
"I will have have a psychedelic gleam in my eye at all times" is an illustration of what was wrong with Woodstock. But Zappa was also overly-smutty. Not in the mild sort-of way, but in the brutally commercial Larry Flynt way. Zappa became as commercial as anyone. Do you think his surviving family aren't wealthy? guess again.
Alan Brooks| 8.19.09 @ 7:37PM
Al Goldstein was another Flynt. Nothing erotic involved, merely pigheadedly obscene.
Zappa spent his whole life getting revenge for being arrested for obscenity in '65 and spending ten days in the hideous San Bernadino 'corrections' facility.
What a world of hate and revenge this is. I wont live to see the end of it. Take it from there.
Alan Brooks| 8.19.09 @ 7:49PM
... that is to say: as for you, seek, what do you think you will live to see?
Seek and you may find. or maybe you wont. Tomorrow never knows :)
Mikel| 3.29.10 @ 10:44AM
Jotkut kokevat jatkuvaa näön paranemista leikkausta seuraavien viikkojen aikana. Käy huolellinen keskustelu silmälääkärisi kanssa ja ota selvää eduista ja riskeistä, joita LASEK-leikkauksessa on. LASEK on suhteellisen helppo ja turvallinen toimenpide, mutta on silti tärkeää, että tunnet olosi täysin turvalliseksi toimenpiteeseen liittyvissä asioissa.