Doublethink

In George Orwell's novel 1984, the residents of socialist "Oceania" spoke an updated form of English, called Newspeak. The purpose of the language was to limit the ability of an individual to think creatively by reducing the number of words and ideas that can be communicated. For example, every idea that could be construed as contrary to the will of Big Brother could only be expressed as crimethink.

Doublethink is defined in the novel as

"The power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them....To tell deliberate lies while genuinely believing in them, to forget any fact that has become inconvenient, and then, when it becomes necessary again, to draw it back from oblivion for just so long as it is needed, to deny the existence of objective reality and all the while to take account of the reality which one denies — all this is indispensably necessary. Even in using the word doublethink it is necessary to exercise doublethink. For by using the word one admits that one is tampering with reality; by a fresh act of doublethink one erases this knowledge; and so on indefinitely, with the lie always one leap ahead of the truth "

Libertarian candidate for Governor of Ohio Ken Matesz (without saying so in as many words) believes that the Republicans are practicing doublethink. According to House Minority Leader John Boehner:

“House Republicans are leading the drive for smaller, more accountable government and better solutions to the challenges facing our nation.”

Uh-huh. Mr. Matesz observes that memories must be growing shorter and shorter. He reminds us that before President Obama's stimulus package of 2009 came President Bush's stimulus package of early 2008, which President Bush called "a booster shot for our economy." At the time, it was said to prevent the onset of the recession.

Agreed, Bush’s spending spree was smaller, at “only” $168 billion, but it was a government stimulus program nonetheless. Proponents want to argue with me that Bush actually wanted to send checks to the little guy, so that makes it better. Sorry guys, government spending is government spending, no matter what it is spent on – your mortgage or someone’s pet alternative energy project. Either government spending solves the economic doldrums or it doesn’t. I know that government spending always hinders the free market economy; it’s not just the spending programs put in place by Democrats that do damage.

Now, here's where it gets interesting. Not a single Republican voted for the Obama "porkulus" package, but President Bush's stimulus received support from every Ohio Republican in the Congress! Including, of course, Rep. Boehner. Who also voted for the Wall Street bailout.

Now, Rep. Boehner, why should we believe you? There is an old saying, "Fooled once, shame on you; fooled twice, shame on me." Rush Limbaugh is saying that voting Republicans back into the Congress is a better solution than secession. Seems to me that Mr. Matesz has made clear that a Republican comeback will do nothing but continue the insanity we are now experiencing with a few cosmetic changes.

There is only one way to get government to act in the interest of the people. And since we know that the interests of both Republican and Democrat are in continuing the present system, the only way to do that is to throw both parties out and vote Libertarians, Constitutionalists, and independents in!

A better solution is to throw the Republicrats out of office in Ohio, replace them with Libertarians, Constitutionalists, and independents, and then declare independence from the United States -- but that's a step that even Mr. Matesz is not ready to consider.

If you think you can explain how electing candidates from the major parties will solve any problems that both of them had a hand in creating, you're welcome to post a comment!