Thomas Jefferson feared us setting up a monarchy. John Adams feared aristocracy. I think Adams was far more prescient than Jefferson. I see the attempt at establishing an aristocracy by members of both parties. Some see their position in the American aristocracy as derived by birth and education. They are members of the blue blood elite who inherited their position from the Democratic Party. They are opposed by the other aristocracy; they derive their elitism from education, patriotism and the Republican Party. They are diametrically opposed to each other politically but the one thing they share is the quest for power and utter domination of people and their opinions.
Each uses their versions of thought police. Both demand lock step by the rank and file. Neither will tolerate questioning of their positions or power. Yet both claim to be the party of the people. Representing the people is the farthest thing from the minds of the party leadership.
I have just read a biography of John Adams by David McCullough. This was an excellent piece of work. If the one of the current crop of candidates was half the man that John Adams was I would vote for them immediately. Yet none of them are good enough to shine this man’s shoes.
Where did we go wrong? When did we lose our way and let ourselves be lead astray by whining liberals or blustering conservatives?