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Jacksonian Democracy
April 4,
2001
by Neuvocat
Not too long ago I took a trip to Nashville and while I
originally went to kick up my heels, it turned out to become
something of a pilgrimage for me. Some people visit Graceland.
I went to the Hermitage.
The Hermitage is the historic landmark that was once the
home and now the final resting place of Al Gore's fellow President,
Andrew Jackson - the feisty war hero who had come to define
much of the character of the Democratic Party. He extended
the right to vote to common citizens, paving the way for both
the Women's Suffrage and Civil Rights Movements.
Of course the irony of history repeating itself weighed heavily
on me when I was there, while reading up on all the political
cartoons, commentary, and insights of Jackson's era. John
Q. Adams, like George W. Bush, made his way into the seat
of the Presidency by way of shady back room dealings out of
sight of the public eye.
Jackson would probably find Duhbya every bit as loathsome
as he did Adams. Both hail from an upper class society who
believe in Republicanism, which essentially maintains that
the common citizens, not the politicians, should keeps a hands-off
approach to government until election time. Jackson saw Republicanism
for what it was: an oligarchy, a form of despotism where the
many are ruled by the few.
Many would likely argue that Jackson must be spinning in
his grave after seeing the plight of Al Gore, especially since
Republicanism seems to have manifested in the Supreme Court
rather than in Congress. I however would argue that Jackson
should rest easily and take comfort in the silver lining in
every cloud.
It is interesting to ponder the outcome of such political
turmoil. Had the election run its logical course and some
nameless man become President, then the reform-minded Jackson
might never have made the political inroads through which
our democracy had to pass on the way from ideology to practice.
Gore is a man with exceptional intelligence and gifted in
his sensibilities and knows more than anyone ever will the
meaning of irony here (and to you freepers reading this article,
tell Duhbya that irony isn't what people do to get the wrinkles
out of their clothing).
To all Democrats, lets give tribute to the man who gave us
our mascot by getting involved. We have a democracy, not an
anarchy or an oligarchy. Let's work with our Representatives
so that they can work with us (especially with the Primaries
looming closer).
Demand that we be heard and always be stubborn in the defense
of our virtues that preserve our very liberty. Understand
the strength of our values while knowing the weaknesses of
the Republicans. Don't fall for that old tired argument that
everything is okay and that the politicians can handle everything
for us because after all, democracy cannot be held up by the
hands of the lazy.
We can be every bit a reformer as President Andrew Jackson
himself was.
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