The American Perestroika

As Obama and the Democrat-controlled Congress steamroll their way toward the false utopia of their childhood dreams, despite the high-decibel and often rambunctious protestations of the people they allegedly serve, we are reminded of a Russian term that describes this attempted radical restructuring of our nation: "perestroika". It was the label placed on Mikhail Gorbachev's maneuverings when he ran the troubled and collapsing Soviet Union, and also the title of his book.

While Gorbachev was generally viewed favorably because of his reform of the Soviet Union from that of a command economy to a market economy, the growing pains were more than the people could bear. Having become so dependent on the Soviet government's "handling" of their everyday concerns, once set free they had no idea of how to deal with fending for themselves. Long lines for free bread and cheese were an inconvenience; not being able to afford them once they were plentiful and priced for the market value became intolerable, and the new capitalist approach was blamed for their woes. Freedom took a back seat.

How strange, then, that Gorbachev was watching our election so intently that three days after Obama won, he called on the newly elected president to carry out perestroika in the U.S. Couple that with the exuberant reactions of many of our enemies, both former and current, to Obama's ascension to the presidency, and one must question one's own judgement on November 4th, 2008.

Even stranger is the willing acceptance by those who did err on election day of the clearly detrimental policies this president has already embarked upon, cheering new powers assumed, prohibited by the U.S. Constitution, simply because they "feel good" about the expected results. No matter how people may feel about health care, the fact remains that there is nothing in the constitution that gives the federal government the authority to provide the individual with free doctor visits. If the behemoth that our government has become would cease and desist from its insatiable confiscatory taxation, perhaps more people would be able to actually afford that visit.

The true irony is this, however; while Gorbachev nearly lost his country as a result of trying to free it from decades of enslavement, Obama is entering the initial stages of the enslavement phase, from which we may have to endure decades of pain until we emerge, not unscathed, at the other end. Everyone must resist the implementation of a such a plan and encourage conservative politicians to stand fast against this insidious tide.

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