Election Post Mortem

*sigh*

So the campaign/election is finally over. From what I am hearing, one or more of several possibilities happened or are in process:

1. The Republicans “duped” America into giving away all of their civil liberties
2. The majority of Americans are stupid or misinformed
3. A mass exodus to points more “reasonable” such as Canada, France, or Costa Rica
4. America gave up its healthcare, fiscal responsibility, affordable education, etc to a fear based fantasy about evil terrorists

While I feel the pain of the “left” after a hard fought campaign, I think these views lack perspective [both historical and in terms of values], and responsibility. I can say this objectively because I am neither of the left or the right. I am, in fact, of the lower right quadrant. (And if you feel the one dimensional “left/right” political spectrum does not suit you, go to:
http://politicalcompass.org and take the 4 quadrant test yourself.)

Anyway, the inherent arrogance in the above mentioned views stuns me.

America was not duped, is not stupid, and is not operating out of fear. At least not en masse.

Additionally, America is not now “doomed” because one party or the other will be in power for another 4 years. We have survived a peaceful transition of power every 4 or 8 years [with the exception of the FDR administration] for 225 years now. Stand back and notice just how amazing that is. America is not doomed and can not be doomed by so little.

America did make a choice–and it made it decisively. America chose one collection of values over another. America chose certain priorities over others. Whether I share those priorities or not is another matter, but simply because the majority of the Country does not share my values does not mean they are stupid or have been duped by the Evil Karl Rove or some clever marketing campaign.

It means they have different priorities and value sets than I/Us. That is a cold hard reality, and it is reality. I look forward to a day when individuals can concede to the “winner” and understand the underpinnings of the constitutional republic we live in and bear “defeat” graciously and honorably.

It saddens me to hear of “battles” and “war” and “taking back America” as if America only belongs to the Left. America belongs to us all. And while I may think that the Country and the Electorate is often crazy, I wake up every day grateful I am who I am in the Country I am. One of the last bastions of Individual freedoms, individual sovereignty, and the belief the the government is only allowed to exist by the consent of the governed. A Country where we are free to create the prosperity we desire should we choose. A Country where we can express ourselves artistically without being gunned down and stabbed (as was just done in Amsterdam to a film director). A Country where we have so much abundance the question is not will someone be able to eat, but where. A Country of the future and a leader in the world.

I still do not know of anyone saying “if I could only get to Poland I could make a life for my family”.

God bless America and god bless the President of the United States. I sure as hell would not want that job in these difficult times, regardless of my party affiliation or how much I would stand to profit. Whoever he is, he needs our support (and our critiques) for the good of our common future that binds us all as Americans.