Happily Ever After

I dislike political punditry. The loud mouth, fast talking, know it all yokel who bombastically spews vituperous half-baked opinions.

Last week I purchased a clock radio that was mistakenly set to our local conservative talk station.

At 7am, while still half asleep, the radio switches on and I am duly informed that we are winning the war in Iraq, that the nation is exceeding all economic forcasts, that our education system is doing just fine. How wonderful, I thought, in my state of semi-conciousness, they finally figured out the world's problems.

That's the appeal of the Conservative party. How easy it is to align yourself with the self discribed savior of this country, the protector of the status quo. Authoritarianism has two sides. Those that strive to be authoritarian leaders, and those that are the authoritarian followers. You need both. Lo! How much easier it is to be politically active as an authoritarian follower! You can claim you are fully fullfilling your duty of participation in a democratic society! All one has to do is say you have faith in your leaders.

Trust.

Respect.

Tradition.

You are now in safe hands. You are now lying in bed, listening to the radio, listening to how the world's problems are being solved. I wish it were acctually that simple.