[Previous entry: "It may not be spring yet..."] [Next entry: "War Bonds, Male Bonding, Etc."]

01/24/2005: "Worshipping the Executive State"

I'm watching Fox News right now, and I got to tell you, as much as I've seen the pro-GOP propaganda on this channel, I wasn't prepared for this. They're glorifying President Bush, emphasizing his "successes" -- such as the supposedly amazing defeat of the Iraqi military with a military machine of 100 times its economic power -- as well as the "disappointing setbacks" in Iraq (such as, I'm guessing, the failure to control the country despite the slaughter of tens of thousands of innocents).

The Republican establishment is and always has been about the worship of the Executive State, which was supposed to be weak and subordinate to Congress. That, and lying, imperialism, corporatism, mercantilism, and mild theocracy have always been the major components of the GOP, all poorly concealed under a dressing of freedom, free markets, the rule of law, and the American way.

With the exception of Ron Paul, these guys are even worse than the Democrats. At least right now. But Republicans have often been good at setting us up for even worse. (Teddy and Taft, Wilson; Hoover, FDR; Eisenhower, JFK.) If the Democrats ever become the worse party again, as they were back during LBJ, God help us all. I can hardly imagine a more statist administration and political culture than Bush-Fox News-compassionate neoconservatism. Actually, I can, but it's too painful for words.

And yet, there are libertarians out there who still think these guys are our friends. Most are not real libertarians, of course, but a good number are genuine and are simply confused. For the future of liberty, all who believe in it must see through the Republican lie.