The above is an image of New York City's next mayor. An avowed Democratic Socialist, Zohran Mamdani has defeated a GOP candidate without elected experience and two disgraced Democrats in an election closely monitored by the White House. In California, Virginia, New Jersey, and New York City, the Orange Snowflake was very disappointed by the seemingly leftward shift in public opinion. Collectively, the public is waking up and telling the snowflake to go F--k himself and the horse he came in on.
Years ago, a great American offered these quotes, illustrating his political philosophy:
1. On liberty and extremism: "I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!"
2. On government and freedom: "I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom. My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them."
3. On government power: "The government that is big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take it away."
4. On choice: "I will offer a choice, not an echo."
5. On political strategy: "The only summit meeting that can succeed is the one that does not take place."
6. On the role of religion: "Religious factions will go on imposing their will on others unless the decent people connected to them recognize that religion has no place in public policy."
7. On monopolies: "Let us henceforth make war on all monopolies—whether corporate or union. The enemy of freedom is unrestrained power..."
Although Barry Goldwater was considered a right wing radical in his time, he would be considered a moderate by today's standards. I feel this man had a more nuanced and balanced view of things than for which people would give him credit. He understood the balance and tension between individual and societal rights. He understood that the power of government, business, and labor must be balanced. And he understood that no religious faction should be allowed enough power to dictate its will on the majority of American citizens.
I'd bet that Goldwater would have a smile on his face, seeing American democracy work to check and balance the power of the lunatics now in charge of the GOP. Yet, he'd also worry about socialist political promises that get fulfilled, as well as those that can't be fulfilled. Historians may see Goldwater as the man who triggered the GOP's shift to the far right. I see him more in line with people like Rand Paul, someone who believes in limiting over consolidation power in some areas that affect the public.
Do I agree with the late Barry Goldwater and his ideas? That's not the best way to put the question. Instead, I'd ask: Did Barry Goldwater see problems with America which could not be solved, even with an imperial presidency? I'd say yes to that question, and that he recognized the dangers in over consolidating power in any one area. We could do much worse than looking back a generation or two and see what they thought about problems similar to those we have now, and learn from their mistakes and their trade-offs.
As they say: "Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it."
