You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” These words often credited to Abraham Lincoln have traditionally held true. But it seems we are steadily becoming a nation of citizens who can be fooled all too much of the time.
Is it because we are gullible, or simply detached? Maybe it is both. What has happened to the America that could not be fooled all the time?
Perhaps we need to be reminded that for a republic to work, citizens must be engaged in the issues of the day. Benjamin Franklin recognized this when he issued these warning words when asked at the close of the Constitutional Convention in 1787 about whether we had a Republic or a Monarchy. “A Republic, if you can keep it,” was his famous response.
Have we forgotten that we are a republic, not a democracy? Do we even know what a republic is? Do we realize that a republic allows the minority a voice? A democracy allows for mob rule. The republic designed by our founding fathers safeguards the freedoms we were born with for everyone, whether they belong to the majority or the minority. We have a representative government which means we elect representatives to represent us in congress. As of late it seems too many of our representatives, on both sides of the aisle feel we must follow their lead.
Have we as a nation become too reliant on our government? Have we concluded it is easier to relinquish responsibility to others and then escape blame for whatever happens? The danger in that is we jeopardize our liberty.
If our government is supposed to be beholding to the American people, not the other way around, than why aren’t more Americans taking the time to get informed on the issues that affect them? Are we too absorbed in posting our favorite meal on Facebook, or watching the funniest cat video on YouTube? Sure, we want to escape the horrors happening around the world, but at what cost?
Too many Americans give up local control too easily. We all want a stellar education for our children, but we expect the government to provide it. If we took the time to better inform ourselves, we would not be so easily fooled.
How can a one- size fits all education system work for the entire country? America has always worked best because we have maintained control at the local level. If teachers, parents, and school administrators must adhere to standards they had no role in defining and cannot redefine the standards if they are not working, where will that leave us?
The time is now for Americans to engage more aggressively in truth seeking and demand that our government “of the people, by the people, for the people” represent our wishes, not the other way around. We the People must keep our republic by once again becoming the Americans Abraham Lincoln knew. The Americans that did not allow themselves to be fooled all the time.
Diana Erbio is a freelance writer and author of “Coming to America: A Girl Struggles to Find her Way in a New World”. Read more in her series Statues: The People They Salute, by going to the Table of Contents for links to her posts about statues in the National Statuary Hall Collection and others.
Unfortunately, seeking the truth takes more effort than most people are willing to invest. With hyped up headlines available with the click of a button, we have all we need to know in the span of a few minutes. No thought required. Tell me what to think rather than how to think, because that takes work.
Dishonest media outlets are more intent on delivering opinion as fact. They are essentially telling their viewers how to vote or what to think by presenting less than the whole truth. It’s taken out of context, it comes from anonymous sources, it’s misinterpreted, or it’s just plain made up! Sometimes, I listen to NPR..for all of 5 or10 minutes. Once they reach a certain level of snark, it’s off. But among the “woke” (ugh) citizens of this country, particularly the young, this liberal mindset is followed almost cult-like. How stupid to think otherwise.
I am so disgusted by these media outlets that have closed the door to fair debate. It’s a shame that debate has all but disappeared on campuses or even among family members. To some, it’s practically criminal to express conservative ideas. It’s hate speech and must be shut down.
So, the dishonest media have learned to capture the minds of the gullible. Couple that with a failed public educational system, and you have the perfect formula for indoctrinating large segments of the population. Can you imagine what the founding fathers would think of Alexandra Ocasio Cortez and The Squad? Or what Schumer and his buddies put Justice Kavanaugh through? Or any of their socialist policies?
Conservatives must remain steadfast in presenting the facts. We need to do the work and educate ourselves so we can put forth a cogent argument. Be forearmed with a list of the accomplishments this president has achieved in only 3 1/2 years. And then we need to engage the young, the liberals, and the fence dwellers, and persuade them with proof that President Trump’s instincts are right for the country.
Once again, we’ll be facing “the most important election ever” this November. As Ms. Erbio wrote, if we “relinquish responsibility to others”, we will “jeopardize our liberty”. So, do you want the government to think for you, or do you prefer to do that for yourself?
“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light.” – George Washington