What ever happened to the golden rule “Don’t believe anything you hear and only half of what you see”?

In the eighties (right after the rebellious sixties and sexy seventies) an American icon rode onto the set of American politics to audition for the starring role: President.  He was hired and gave commanding performances. His show was a smash hit, running for eight consecutive seasons.  I wish I could say this man’s name was George Carlin, George Burns, or even Don Rickles; not that it matters much because the lines had already been written, but maybe they could’ve at least had a funnier delivery.

Like most world leaders, Ronald Reagan was a figure head.  A mouth piece for a conservative agenda supported not only by the Republican Party which he represented, but by Democrats who found themselves surrounded by social, scientific, and technological change moving too fast and too far from their comfort zones.  His campaign, along with his time in office, was not only comforting as it dumbed the citizenry down with “old fashioned American values”, but it was utterly refreshing to have a spokesman who seemed to have emerged straight out of 1945.  It was like we were trying to relive the fifties all over again.  It might have actually worked, but the mouth piece was never really in charge. New things like HIV/AIDS, and older issues like expanding equal rights kept chugging along, chipping away at our profound fear of change. 

The Reagan years set the stage, and in general the population seemed willing to play their respective parts as supporting cast and extras.  Some enjoyed the warm throw-back blanket of conservatism, while others secretly crept backstage to do a line of cocaine, or express their sexual identities in a way they couldn’t while onstage in front of the audience.

The late eighties with Bush number one were somewhat uneventful.  We had Operation Desert Storm which was widely supported.  Basically, it was a quick four year stint where conservative values were appreciated, yet not shoved down our throats as our American pork filled bellies were still satiated from Reagan. 

Enter: Bill Clinton. We knew we were in danger of not moving forward with the democratic agenda when he stated that he didn’t inhale.  It was apparent that conservatism was ready and waiting for this guy to inhale, or not be enough of a Christian, or whatever the criteria was for that week.  Hillary playing the part of an intelligent, outspoken and independent woman surely didn’t help things.   Let’s just admit it.  The Republicans, with their Conservative Base, were on the Clintons like white on rice.

Naturally, the fevered branch of conservatism hit back after eight years of sinful Clinton rule, leaving the left with a bruised lip, and George W., who coincidentally also claimed Christianity as his saving grace.  What a hay day it was for ‘Family Values”, or so it seemed.  By this time, the American population had been so saturated with righteous moral indignation they couldn’t tell the difference between liberty and a hole in the ground.  Prior to September 11, 2001; abortion, homosexuality, the legalization of marijuana, along with some labor and immigration issues, were the major causes lighting up the American conservative psyche.  Then the terrorists showed up – brazen, and in our front yard.  For some, the tragedy of 9/11 became a unifying factor once the initial sadness and anger dissipated. For others, it was God’s wrath justly enacted on a country struggling toward too much equality, too much choice. Unification is difficult at best when the world outside is viewed with suspicion, through a lens of dissatisfaction and judgment. Later the dissatisfaction grew.

It’s not necessary now to list the possible criminalities and general mistreatments which may be attributed to the Bush administration. If you’re not paying any attention at all, you know that some political officials gave the big thumbs up on water boarding. Maybe what you don’t know is that after WWII our country’s judicial system sentenced Japanese military officers to death for water boarding. Because of the unfortunate misguidance of our previously elected officials the conduct of military enemies will for a long time be perilous. In other words, we totally lowered the bar. And so the bar was lowered, and later, deregulated.

It remains to be said that Jimmy Carter was first on the scene (in recent history anyway) claiming Christianity as a value to his possible presidency.  After that went pretty well for Carter, Reagan showed up and the Republican Party climbed into the sack with Christian Conservatism. Candidates have been publicly clarifying their religious affiliations and moral beliefs since.  This makes about as much sense as verifying ones preference for chocolate over vanilla.  Who cares?  Since when do Americans want their elected officials to vote their own consciences?  We don’t vote them in to be their own voice. We elect them to be OURS. If we change our minds, then so should they.  ‘Wishy-washy’ makes for the perfect politician. They SHOULD be our puppets.

The hypocrisy and the irony; “when you point a finger at someone else, there are three fingers pointing back at you”.  Who was surprised to find the Clinton impeachment seekers were having sordid relations of their own?  Many of us weren’t startled in the slightest. Some people’s assumptions were validated. Others, who didn’t trust Democrats to begin with, decided to widen their scope of disapproval to all of government - which is silly since we the people are actually, the government.  If our government doesn’t work well, it’s because we allow it to not work well.  A right to vote, a right to say what you want out loud, and the right to own a gun; seems like each American individual is their own little government already!  

One person’s morality is another’s sin, so how can ‘family values’ be distributed?  It’s a bill of goods, a lightweight bag full of empty promises sold for votes.  Republicans, obviously, aren’t the only ones who’ve lied to benefit from associations with religion.  Plenty of Democrats are quick to promote their good natures by identifying with Christianity also.  And so what if abortion funding is cut, or if gay rights are denied?  The greed feeders who forgot why they got into public office in the first place don’t care one iota about pro-life agendas, illegal immigration issues, prayer in public schools, or crosses placed on public lands.  These are only hot topics used to tap into the conservative voting pools.  They get the attention desired by using the honest convictions of thoughtful Americans, make promises based on common ground, and then live and die for corporate campaign contributions to enable them to do it again the next day, week, month, and year. It is increasingly clear that corporations are the ones, who in the end decide the value of nearly all our families where political benefit is concerned.  Until now that is.    

With this recent history behind us how can conservatism, not to mention ultra- conservatism, last?  After all this time when will the family value policies materialize?  They are realized by our own actions, taking responsibility for how we treat each other in our families, and in our communities. Family values will never be successfully legislated. Can acceptance, kindness, or respect be legislated?  Equality for each American in every function of American life is on its way, because it’s the right thing to do; the evolved American thing to do. The ideal way to live brought to you by fairness and equitable division of our country’s resources and rights.  Let’s toast with a tall cool glass of Democracy!