PROMETHEAN ANTAGONIST

Reasonably honest people are able to change their views over time, when warranted.  Of late, there are many of us who look back on the Bush years and the war in Iraq (for example) and realize we were wrong.  Saddam Hussein was a “bad guy” but American actions toppling his regime were unfounded.  America — the American government — has been the bad guy in several instances in modern history.   Twenty years ago, I would have thought that Julian Assange and Edward Snowden were potential threats to a free nation’s security. Now, I have to acknowledge that both are heroes.

It’s refreshing to realize that I’m not alone when I hear people like Tucker Carlson express the same sentiments.  On the other side of the spectrum, people like Russel Brand and Glen Greenwald now sound like conservatives merely because they recognize an authoritarian menace in the omnipotent state when they see it.  There are now a host of popular media personalities (e.g. Tim Pool, Joe Rogan, Jimmy Dore, occasionally, Bill Maher) who are now accused of being “right wing” because they believe in a free press and sane governance (e.g. a secure border). 

There used to be a fairly simple equation one could follow in judging just conclusions.  America was a free society and that appraisal could be backed up by one’s own life. If one didn’t break any common sense laws you could pretty much voice your opinion as you chose and likewise vote for your personal choice in political candidates.  It stood to reason that living in such a relatively rare circumstance, the officials that maintained a well-functioning free society could be trusted to be generally doing the right thing. The CIA was staffed by fellow free citizens dedicated to monitoring the evil forces of totalitarianism that plagued much of the globe. The FBI made sure that serious crimes were investigated, again keeping us commoners relatively unscathed by the intrigues of those with evil intent.  

We no longer live in that world. The freedoms guaranteed by our constitution are honored considerably less. The powers of state openly collude with the powerful corporations that disseminate information. The police powers that used to protect have become mere enforces of a political class dominated by one political party and an ideology more attuned to international institutions than our own constitution. 

Bedrock American conservatism hasn’t changed. It’s based upon a genuine respect for the founders and the documents that outline free society.  The assault now comes at conventional beliefs from all sides. In addition to the usual collectivist rabble, establishment forces within the FBI, CIA, NSA, et al. now direct their authority to reining in a public that still thinks they are protected by the rule of law.

There are many countries that promise freedom of speech and expression in their constitutions. Some are actually based upon America’s founding documents. But what good is any document that few acknowledge or see as valid? What made America’s constitution work was an almost religious respect for its principles.  No decent public figure would think of deliberately undermining basic principles like “equality before the law.”  Even those who supported slavery knew they were breaching the just foundations of written law. Yet now, here we are. A multi-tiered “justice” system that is used to solidify one political party’s grip on the body politique'. 

There are many who would formally be considered to be “on the left” who no longer fit that description. There are also many, formally considered to be “on the right,” who no longer look blindly at their nation’s centers of power with respect. We have “changed our mind,” or perhaps refined our thought to adapt to an emerging paradigm shift. 

Unfortunately, there will still be others who have not changed their mind.  The new global centralization of absolute power defies a right/left analysis.  Its motivations are ideological, collectivist, and at once corporate and now takes possession of the hollow shells of previous power centers. 

I, and many others, were wrong about many things but the founding principles of free society are still timeless.  If those who have, over time, usurped power would only honor the timeless over the expedient. But, don’t hold your breath.

# posted by Promethean Antagonist @ 4:47 PM