Steven P. BarrettREAL DEMOCRATS OF THE NATION, THE TIME FOR REBELLION LIES BEFORE US!
July 1st 2008 00:49
Steven Barrett
In a previous post, I referred to my "Happy Valley" origins of Western Massachusetts as a "State of Mind." And while a lot of my fellow area residents wouldn't mind forming their own "secesh" movement against Boston's long grip, I'm not ready for what'd surely follow:
A rapidly impoverished collection of liberal collegetowns such as Amherst, Northampton, South Hadley, and Williamstown all fighting each other for the honor of the state capitol. The snobs running this area wouldn't even consider taking in Springfield, Chicopee and Holyoke. Too blue collar, suburbanite and none of the colleges in those communities are "ivy-enough" to help them meet the social muster.
This breakaway state has as much a chance of successfully seceeding and getting accepted by Congress as Raul Castro's Cuba has of getting Washington to drop the embargo and grant it full recognition. Maybe even fewer chances. Even Washington, DC would have a better chance than both the People's Commonwealth of Happy Valley/Western Massachusetts. Even Dan'l Shays would rise from his grave and oppose this.
The reason isn't just the area's far beyond the rainbow predilictions and love affair for the contemporary (erzatz) liberalism that's held the once (genuine People's Party, vs the Guardians Of Privilege) in an iron grip of medocrity -- it's that the rest of the nation would rise up as it's never risen against this wacko version of "liberalism" and that'd be the end of the two party system as we know it. And we're not ready for ditching that either. Or taking upon us the mantle of libertarianism. Alot of us depend on those government programs and if they're gutted, you can rest assure much of the economy will head south with them.
On the other hand, how long would it take for "gridlock" to overtake Washington in the afterglow of either a Libertarian or Green Party nominee occupying the Oval Office? A day or two. Maybe a half-hour. Nope: Definintely less.
Where does this lead us?
LOOK UP AT THIS POST'S TITLE FOR A CLUE: I'll bet most readers, like your's truly, lacking a high pile of pedigrees and published position papers to their name, can figure this out. The rest of the overly pedigreed voting public might be as clueless, but for the sake of argument here, to hell with the clueless. Remember what the first Democratic President said when some frustrated farmer from my neck of the country took his musket and marched off to the Hampshire County Courthouse in Northampton, MA and started what became known as "Shay's Rebellion"?
"A little rebellion now and then is a good thing . . . ." (Thomas Jefferson)
Besides, to use my "signature,"Politically incorrect Democrats make the BEST Democrats!"
THAT'S WHAT ANDREW JACKSON, WM. JENNINGS BRYAN, EVEN FDR ("A TRAITOR TO HIS CLASS"), HARRY TRUMAN AND LBJ WOULD SAY.
JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THAT LIST FOR A SECOND: WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FDR (HARVARD AND DUTCH YANKEE WEALTH), WHAT DID THE REST OF THOSE MEN HAVE IN COMMON?
NOT ONE OF THE REMAINDER CAME FROM THE ELITIST RANKS OR "BEST COLLEGES." YET ROOSEVELT WAS CONSIDERED A "TRAITOR TO HIS CLASS."
End, part one.
In a previous post, I referred to my "Happy Valley" origins of Western Massachusetts as a "State of Mind." And while a lot of my fellow area residents wouldn't mind forming their own "secesh" movement against Boston's long grip, I'm not ready for what'd surely follow:
A rapidly impoverished collection of liberal collegetowns such as Amherst, Northampton, South Hadley, and Williamstown all fighting each other for the honor of the state capitol. The snobs running this area wouldn't even consider taking in Springfield, Chicopee and Holyoke. Too blue collar, suburbanite and none of the colleges in those communities are "ivy-enough" to help them meet the social muster.
This breakaway state has as much a chance of successfully seceeding and getting accepted by Congress as Raul Castro's Cuba has of getting Washington to drop the embargo and grant it full recognition. Maybe even fewer chances. Even Washington, DC would have a better chance than both the People's Commonwealth of Happy Valley/Western Massachusetts. Even Dan'l Shays would rise from his grave and oppose this.
The reason isn't just the area's far beyond the rainbow predilictions and love affair for the contemporary (erzatz) liberalism that's held the once (genuine People's Party, vs the Guardians Of Privilege) in an iron grip of medocrity -- it's that the rest of the nation would rise up as it's never risen against this wacko version of "liberalism" and that'd be the end of the two party system as we know it. And we're not ready for ditching that either. Or taking upon us the mantle of libertarianism. Alot of us depend on those government programs and if they're gutted, you can rest assure much of the economy will head south with them.
Where does this lead us?
LOOK UP AT THIS POST'S TITLE FOR A CLUE: I'll bet most readers, like your's truly, lacking a high pile of pedigrees and published position papers to their name, can figure this out. The rest of the overly pedigreed voting public might be as clueless, but for the sake of argument here, to hell with the clueless. Remember what the first Democratic President said when some frustrated farmer from my neck of the country took his musket and marched off to the Hampshire County Courthouse in Northampton, MA and started what became known as "Shay's Rebellion"?
"A little rebellion now and then is a good thing . . . ." (Thomas Jefferson)
Besides, to use my "signature,"Politically incorrect Democrats make the BEST Democrats!"
THAT'S WHAT ANDREW JACKSON, WM. JENNINGS BRYAN, EVEN FDR ("A TRAITOR TO HIS CLASS"), HARRY TRUMAN AND LBJ WOULD SAY.
JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THAT LIST FOR A SECOND: WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FDR (HARVARD AND DUTCH YANKEE WEALTH), WHAT DID THE REST OF THOSE MEN HAVE IN COMMON?
NOT ONE OF THE REMAINDER CAME FROM THE ELITIST RANKS OR "BEST COLLEGES." YET ROOSEVELT WAS CONSIDERED A "TRAITOR TO HIS CLASS."
End, part one.
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