The Party of Santa Claus

I agree with Rush Limbaugh that the Democratic Party won the election of 2012 by becoming the Party of Santa Claus. Establishment Republicans are completely in error, for example, when they insist that the GOP must alter its position on illegal immigration. Voters did not vote for President  Barack Obama on the basis that he would give illegal aliens unconditional amnesty. The different voting constituencies voted for Obama because he would give them free handouts.

President Obama shrewdly gave his constituencies assurances they would get what they wanted from him, and he succeeded in portraying Mitt Romney as the person who would take them away. Obama promised women the ongoing freedom to practice any form of sexual activity they wanted without fear that the government would take away from them their rights to kill their unwanted babies. And he portrayed Romney as someone who who would take away those rights from women. Obama succeeded.

To students Obama promised they could get a loan for college no matter what, and they voted for him. To lower classes, Obama promised Obamaphones. One woman had 200 of them. To unemployed workers, Obama promised almost unending months of unemployment compensation, that which Romney would have greatly reduced.  To Union Workers Obama promised their pensions would be subsidized by the government. And of course to all, Obama promised free health care insurance.

And America bought into the Santa Claus mentality. GOP blue-bloods have contented themselves with becoming Santa Claus Lite - as in the case of George Bush, who  pushed government-subsidized prescription drug programs. Romney would cleverly give the voters of Massachusetts RomneyCare, but he would deny those rights to the nation as a whole. But who really wants Santa Claus Lite?

When I was growing up the concern on the right was the Soviet Union's threatened takeover of the world through nuclear military might. Back in those days, the mantra on the left was, "I'd rather be Red than Dead!"

But now the mantra for those on the left has changed. It has become, "I'd rather be Fed than Free." Americans don't realize it, but when free people trade freedom for financial security, they become serfs on the Government Plantation. And that's what America has become, in large part because the left owns the educational establishment, the major news networks, and the entertainment industry. The left has successfully educated Americans into believing that those who have learned to take care of themselves exceptionally well are evil and selfish (unless they are committed leftists, of course). Leftists have succeeded in teaching many of the hoi polloi that normal people depend on the government to be their Savior. America is no longer free. We have become the country of Santa Claus. Welcome to the USSA!

Welcome to the country of Santa Claus, where the people have sold their own freedom for a loaf of bread. And an Obamaphone. And a hugely-subsidized Government Motors Volt that no one wants to own.

Politicians on the Far Side

While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

'Welcome to heaven,' says St. Peter. 'Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you.'

'No problem, just let me in,' says the man.

'Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.'

'Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,' says the senator.

'I'm sorry, but we have our rules.'

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St Peter is waiting for him.

'Now it's time to visit heaven.'

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

'Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.'

The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: 'Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.'

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. 'I don't understand,' stammers the senator. 'Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?'

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, 'Yesterday we were campaigning ...... Today you voted".