I can't help but notice the big changes in our country during the past hundred years. I am not happy with what I see. For literary purposes, let's suppose for a moment that I wanted to destroy our Republic. How would I do it?
The country is too strong to accomplish my task militarily " and everyone would know what I was up to. No, I need a different way. To be successful, it could not be obvious.
The destruction would be done under the auspices of a better democracy. I'd use democracy like a lynch mob " majority equals power. The restrictions of our Republic, for instance liberty and the rule of law, would need to be pushed aside, or better yet, redefined so as not to interfere with my new system. But how would I get the majority to go along?
I'd need to establish "rights" that would require new rules and regulations to give me more control. I'd get people to believe that their very existence entitles them to medical care, a home, food and even a minimum wage. These are all nice things. Nice people will be all for that. Making the prosperous feel guilty or just taking their money through taxes would work. The majority would demand these things and through class envy and new laws, the masses would prevail.
Paying for all these programs will be expensive. So, I'd create a central bank, a "Fed." Now I would be able to create money from nothing to serve my purposes. Played right, the populace would think this was real money. They would not understand that money of any value could never be created from nothing. The Fed would be my favorite tool. People would think things are good when my Fed money is put into the system. They would actually think this fiat money created prosperity.
As time went on, the populace would start to look at government as the place they could get everything for free. The inevitable result would be politicians handing out favors. The Constitution would no longer be important. What would be important is special benefits and favors to selected groups " groups that support my purpose.
There would be only two political parties to choose from. They would speak differently and act as if the other party was wrong. But in the end, they'd do the same things: increase spending, increase taxes and regulate people into the social conformance that I want. My Sugar Daddy Fed would be the co-star, funding all of it with fiat money, reducing politicians to mere stooges directing money and influence.
A critical part of my plan would be fooling everyone. They could not see it coming. An educated electorate would see what I was up to and might do something about it. Thus, I would need to control education. A federal Department of Education could do this. I could revise history and change the thinking of the young. As they got older, they would not know any better and already believe in the things that I wanted them to believe in. After all, they'd be confident about their "rights."
What if I was challenged? I'd need the courts to be complicit. They could legislate from the bench supporting my endeavor and takeover.
Once I control government I only have one more thing to do. I would need to have constant emergencies " emergencies that only government could fix. Global warming? Foreign enemies? Both will do! Bigger and bigger problems that seem more and more complex would be necessary. If they did not show up, I would create them. The populace would constantly look to government for help. If I am truly effective, they will start to look to me for everything.
This cannot be accomplished quickly. But, I am patient. What's my name, America? It's socialism. If you don't like me, you better do something to get rid of me, and quick.
- David Y. Cantwell is a resident of Genoa.