"A lie keeps growing and growing until it's as plain as the nose on your face." - The Blue Fairy, Pinocchio, 1940
O.K. Pilgrims. Answer these questions by raising your hands out there: How many were taught that we were to be a Middle Class nation? How many believe that, despite this, there is a Low, Middle, and Upper Class in American Society? How many of you were taught that this is just the way it is in America? How many of you were taught that we should aspire to achieve that vaunted Middle Class life? If so, your immigrant ancestors were misled and you have been scammed. You were swindled out of your inheritance, like Esau, for a bowl of porridge. The "Middle Class" should never really exist within America. If everyone were Middle Class, then, by definition we would not be Middle Class, we would be something else.
"Veni, vidi, quo ergo sum? [lousy Latin, but you get the point.]
The Declaration of Independence is not just prose, it is a Grant, and a Deed of Trust for every American. America was envisioned by Alexander Hamilton as a manufacturing and mercantilist power, and by Thomas Jefferson as an agrarian giant. Both men were correct. America did become an agricultural and manufacturing giant, the envy of the world, a powerhouse of Freedom and Enterprise! American citizens were all granted the "Pursuit of Happiness" by the Declaration of Independence along with life and Liberty. A scant 234 years later [a historically time-wise that is a drop the bucket] we have a land where industry is chained, agriculture is on a short leash, we fight to defend our Constitutional Rights daily, economic depression crushes our dreams, and many Countrymen are wondering whatever happened to the dreams of the Founders.
In this Judeo Christian Country, we were not envisioned to be an endless Middle Class, whatever that is. Our God sees us all as unique human beings with special talents. We were envisioned to be a Nation of free, but mutually supporting, self-sufficient, ruggedly individualistic, and uniquely generous people. America herself, was to be free from entangling alliances, European tribal conflicts, endless feudal warfare, seething economic envy, petty jealousies, and social class restrictions. How are we doing? How many think that we are in danger of becoming that which our forefathers [and mothers] fled? What is it that creeps day by day into our debates and slithers year by year into our laws and society that seeks to transform us?
"Middle Class." Why do we use this term in America? It is simply a step above some notional Lower Class and a step below some Upper Class. Is it a level, like a Journeyman: in between Novice and Master? A Novice may be a beginner, but what is a Master? In America it might connote "Expert" in the trades, but in Europe's history of guilds, and elsewhere, it takes on another connotation. And, Master is yet quite separate from a social Upper Class of Elites or Nobility. Then, what is the Journeyman? ... an educated and competent drone that work for the Masters or Experts, who themselves yet linger below the Upper class? This all sounds like a scary form of servitude to me, very alien to American Exceptionalism. So again, I ask, what is this Middle Class stuff, why do we need it? How and why did this "Class" nonsense enter American Society? Think about it.
What has this notion of Middle Class done for you, or me, or anyone? Even defining who the Middle Class is daunting. The Middle Class, in truth, is a political, statistical football used within the Left-Right economic debate. Both Major Parties bat the term around like a piñata, hoping that they can scramble and scrum for the most votes when someone swings blindly but luckily and the piñata finally breaks. We could and should ask, “What the devil a Left-Right Economic Debate for that matter?”
The entire modern Left-Right debate whether political, social, or economic has become a bête noire. American economic debates have fraudulently devolved into a justification of Marxism as a fait accompli, i.e. a historical imperative. I am strongly convinced that we wrongly accept and argue the whole economic system within Marxist terms and conditions. To wit: Middle Class smacks of the Marxist terms Bourgeoisie and Petit-bourgeoisie. The Bourgeoisie are the small business owners. The Petit- Bourgeoisie are the artisans and the small entrepreneurs. Our Left-Right debate centers on Marxist lingo. Recognize the terms of Marxist Debate: Is not the Proletariat defining manual work or common laborers? Are not the Lumpen-proletariat the undefined, unemployed and shadow laborers [also illegals]. And who is the Capitalist according to Marx, but the Plutocrat, the wealthy industrialist, the property owners?
Why do we do this? Have we lost our minds? Do we have a National Death Wish?
We must return to the vision of American Exceptionalism. “Dance with the one what brung ya!” The Founders saw us as an exceptional nation, the firstborn child [nation] of the Enlightenment in a broad sense. Ask yourself: Are we presently, truly, " A Nation of the People, By the People, and for the People?" Do we believe in and cling to "Republicanism" [not the political party] as seen by our Founders? Do we really believe in "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness?"
There are two gorillas in the room that thwart our Founders’ vision. Those twin gorillas are Marxism and Keynesianism. They both require victims and scapegoats. Keynesian Economics is eerily analogous to Five Year Plans. Always have a plan out there, even if it is a piece of junk. Demand production by fiat. Demand consumption by fiat. Regulate daily economic life. Create false hope through propaganda, phony and false statistics and damn the consequences. If it doesn't work demand more and stimulate more. Place blame. FDR did it for three full terms as President during the failed New Deal. Obama has taken a page from FDR's book. He blames his miserable failure to end the current depression on Republicans, the Tea Party “racists,” stupid and unworthy citizens, Fox News, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and the rest of Talk Radio.
Contrast this to a Free Market Economy, free of government meddling and unnecessary interference with market dynamics creates needed goods, medicines and technologies, and creates a fabulous system of opportunity prosperity for all. Ronald Reagan firmly believed that a rising tide raises all ships. Reagan was optimistic that by unchaining basic market forces and by reducing Government Regulation, Taxation and Spending at all levels, that each American would have their shot at achieving their dream, their unalienable right to Pursuit of Happiness. The inherent goodness and generosity of the American People would lead America to be a "Shining City on a Hill." Favorable conditions of freedom create optimism. Obama creates pessimism except for his true believers who drink the Kool-Aid obediently.
Liberals in the 1980s called Reagan's Supply-side economics plan "trickle down economics." [Candidate George H. W. Bush even had the temerity to call it “voodoo economics” in one debate]. Even the GOP had its own unbelieving snobs, but they changed their tunes when they saw Tax revenues pour into the Treasury due to economic expansion. Despite this proof to the contrary, most Democrats seriously believe that taxing the wealthy will solve our deficit problems. Reagan never got the government spending cuts he asked for, but his tax cuts created fabulous opportunities for growth in America, while his military modernization forced the end of the Cold War. Reagan was all about America. Reagan was all for America.
Are you baffled? The prescription to cure our ills are simple and we can begin with the notions of class in our society. Class distinctions, however innocently uttered, are unproductive and damaging to American's the Pursuit of Happiness. They limit us. They teach us to trust the ideas of others and accept slop and hogwash of bureaucrats as desirable outcomes. Let us re-order Congress this Fall and change the terms of that debate.
Allow an illustration from an allegorical tale. Geppetto prayed for a son, and the Blue Fairy brought a puppet to life. Pinocchio was happy to be alive as Geppetto's little boy but he was still only a puppet, and wanted to become real flesh and blood. The Blue Fairy told Pinocchio that if he wanted to become a real boy, and not remain a wooden puppet, that he must prove himself brave, truthful and unselfish. He was to listen to his conscience and do the right thing. This was not easy because Pinocchio had to form a conscience before he could make good decisions, else he would be led astray. Pinocchio often strayed. A good conscience did not mean doing what he wanted to do. As a reminder, when Pinocchio lied or rationalized, his nose grew until “the lie was as plain as the nose on his face” Pinocchio would come to realize and to learn. He would eventually come to his senses and his nose would return to normal. Pinocchio eventually acted, as we all do, like Prodigal Son. He squandered his freedoms only narrowly to escape with his life, but escape disfigured. Even so, Pinocchio subsequently received grace due to his noble actions to rescue Geppetto from the belly of the whale at the cost of his own life. This act ultimately redeemed Pinocchio, and he was reborn as a real flesh and blood boy. Worth pondering.
We American's have been lied to and lead astray for almost a Century now. But for some reason, this big lie of Marxism never seems to become as plain to us as the nose on our face. We simply cannot walk around all day long living in this parallel Marxist universe singing, “there are no strings on me." Neither should we accept some Fascist alternative universe that is offers more materially, but is bankrupt spiritually. The choice is not Fascism or Marxism. The choice is not Left or Right. If being Middle Class is the answer, what is the question?
Soon, and very soon, we are all going to have to examine our conscience and vote for some tough medicine. Break the addiction to the myth of Middle Class. The choice, as Ronald Reagan said, is between Right and Wrong.
At West Point, the Cadets have a very special Prayer that they recite at every Chapel Service. As I get older, I find myself praying it and meditating on its lofty prose very often. I share it with you here:
The Cadet Prayer
O God, our Father, Thou Searcher of human hearts, help us to draw near to Thee in sincerity and truth. May our religion be filled with gladness and may our worship of Thee be natural. Strengthen and increase our admiration for honest dealing and clean thinking, and suffer not our hatred of hypocrisy and pretence ever to diminish. Encourage us in our endeavor to live above the common level of life. Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half truth when the whole can be won. Endow us with courage that is born of loyalty to all that is noble and worthy, that scorns to compromise with vice and injustice and knows no fear when truth and right are in jeopardy. Guard us against flippancy and irreverence in the sacred things of life. Grant us new ties of friendship and new opportunities of service. Kindle our hearts in fellowship with those of a cheerful countenance, and soften our hearts with sympathy for those who sorrow and suffer. Help us to maintain the honor of the Corps untarnished and unsullied and to show forth in our lives the ideals of West Point in doing our duty to Thee and to our Country. All of which we ask in the name of the Great Friend and Master of all. - Amen
