The phrase 'When America sneezes, the world catches the cold' was originally an economic allusion, but after yesterday's series of primary victories for Rick Santorum, I can't help extending the meaning to a wider political context. I've said this before, but the idea of a theocratic US, headed by a person who professes to be inspired by God, and thus has a convenient 'imaginary friend' to pass responsibility for their actions to, is a prospect that frightens me greatly, the more so because of the recent American addiction to 'regime change'. Do as we 'advise' or face the consequences. The idea of the person with the greatest temporal power in the world abdicating responsibility to a non-existent deity, and following the precepts of a 2000-3000 year old book full of hatred and vengeance, makes me shudder.
Love & best wishes to all
Sammy B
Hi Sammy;
ReplyDeleteIf it's any consolation, the idea of Santorum becoming president makes me shudder too.
The interesting thing is, to get the republican vote seems to be a race to the ridiculous. The crazier you are, the more republicans like you, I guess. Case in point: Sarah Palin.
randy
The best part is that NO ONE with a lick of sense thinks anyone but perhaps Romney can beat Obama exactly because they are so nutty. That's reassuring to me!
ReplyDeletePeace <3
Jay
Hello Randy & Jay
ReplyDeleteWhile the words 'politician' and 'hypocrite' seem to be virtual synonyms, the current crop of Republican presidential candidates seem to have gone far beyond the norm. The theocrat who opposes any sort of choice in relation to sexuality outside of reproduction, but was happy for his own wife to have a life-saving abortion, the thrice married adulterer defending 'family values' and consorting with dominionists, the 'libertarian' who talks about 'honest rape' and has strong links to white supremacists, and the front-running multi-millionaire who claims fellow feeling with the poor and knowledge of what it's like to be unemployed. From my non-American perspective, though, it's still Santorum that I find the scariest. A religious fanatic in charge of zillions of dollars worth of advanced weaponry doesn't bear thinking about.
Love & best wishes
Sammy B
The thought of someone like Romney, Santorum or Bachmann becoming President actually makes me fear for America. In fact, the world.
ReplyDeleteHello Rowan
DeleteRomney is a 'shape-shifter', adjusting his position to suit, so the danger in his case would be which part of his constituency was shouting the loudest. The likes of Santorum and Bachmann, though, are genuinely scary - 'God told me to do it' seems to me to be the worst imaginable basis for governmental policy, especially when that policy can be backed up by the military capability the US possesses. The best hope is that the current crop of Republicans are rather like the 1980's Labour Party in this country, too extremist to be electable in any reasonable circumstances.
Love & best wishes
Sammy B