What are We Thinking?

It is a sad commentary of the post modern age, when you consider there are people out there who willingly and without hesitation or forethought admit voting for a candidate they believe will lie and is untrustworthy. It is not only troubling, but, and this may seem a bit extreme, tantamount to treason. For any American to knowingly choose to place the reins of power of the presidency of the United States, the most powerful position in the world, in the hands of a known deceiver is to place this nations honor, integrity and security in jeopardy.

Why you might ask would any decent, well meaning, God-fearing American make such a monumental decision with so little concern for the well being of their families and homeland. Some blame the media for inadequate reporting or intentionally misleading the public on behalf of the candidate they support. Several weeks ago, a NY Time reporter wrote a lengthy article that asks the Fourth Estate to dismiss all objectivity, and journalistic standards and integrity, to ensure that Mr. Trump would lose the election to Hillary Clinton. In other words if we have to manipulate the facts in favor of a candidate, and report faulty negative information about another, will we do so for the good of the people. Propaganda is a mainstay of politics, but this is even beyond “Yellow Journalism”.

When you consider the scandals that have plagued Mrs. Clinton over the 30 years of her public life: Whitewater, e-mails, mobile devices, (C) classified status, Clinton Global Foundation, pay for play, FBI interviews, congressional hearings, and Benghazi. I don’t believe it necessary that each of these require explanation, hopefully most of the American people, especially the voters, know what each of these represent.

Yet knowing of all Mrs. Clintons peccadilloes and without any regard for character, principle and truthfulness, millions of Americans will still stubbornly insist she is the better candidate. And this is not to say that Mr. Trump is any more worthy for the office of president, but you must admit his indiscretions do not compare to the former first lady, senator and Secretary of State.

And lest we forget there’s the matter of the first female president and its historical significance; some will say the pendulum has swung, and the time has come, nothing else matters. Then there will be those among us who are simply uninformed, ignorant of the facts and know nothing about the candidate’s historical record; ignorance may be bliss, but it’s no excuse.

It goes without saying; most of Mrs. Clinton’s supporters will be minorities who believe democrats will be more efficacious of their needs, and liberals or progressives who are all about ideology, especially involving social issues, abortion rights, the LGBT agenda, and open borders immigration, and to hell with traditional values. History reveals these groups will set aside the truth, and any principles they might possess, and vote for the candidate who will think just like them and serve up the goodies they so desire. There will be others from various factions, conservative democrats, independents, and yes even some republicans who will cross party lines and vote for Mrs. Clinton.

Have we as a people surrendered and become corrupted by demagogues and political manipulators. Have we become cynical and apathetic, set aside standards of decency, morality and integrity for our own self-serving agendas. Have we become cultural misfits and are incapable of knowing right from wrong.

Samuel Adams, a leader in the revolt by colonists that preceded the Revolutionary War, once wrote “No people will tamely surrender their liberties, nor can they be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and virtue preserved. But on the contrary, when people are universally ignorant, and debauched in their manners, they will sink under their own weight without the aid of foreign invaders”.