In 1983, Jean-Francois Revel wrote, “How Democracies Perish,” an important, if under-appreciated text discussing the debilitating effects of liberalism when applied to the self-preservation of self-governing states. Revel begins his text with the collapse of France’s pre-Vichy government in the face of Nazi Germany’s onslaught. Drawing lessons from that day and applying them to the ideological challenge of the Soviet Union, Revel pessimistically evaluated the odds of survival for a free West, and in particular denounced the post-Vietnam War tendency of democracies to blame themselves for the threats imposed upon them:
Democracy tends to ignore, even deny, threats to its existence because it loathes doing what is necessary to counter them… What we end up with in what is conventionally called Western society is a topsy-turvy situation in which those seeking to destroy democracy appear to be fighting for legitimate aims, while its defenders are pictured as repressive reactionaries. Identification of democracy‚Äôs internal and external adversaries with the forces of progress, legitimacy, even peace, discredits and paralyzes the efforts of people who are only trying to preserve their institutions…
Unlike the Western leadership, which is tormented by remorse and a sense of guilt, Soviet leaders’ consciences are perfectly clear, which allows them to use brute force with utter serenity both to preserve their power at home and to extend it abroad.
History ended up refuting Revel’s central thesis, that democracies could not withstand the determined assault of statist tyrannies. The West won the Cold War less perhaps because of any central advantage accruing to democracy itself than because of the fact that free minds were combined in the US and Western Europe with free markets: There is tremendous economic energy and vigor that adheres to the combination, and what we lacked in determination and inveterate philosophical malice we more than made up for with economic energy, productivity and enterprise. It’s worth remembering that communism was first of all an economic theory of government. That theory was beset - to use a favorite conjuction from Marx himself - with inherent contradictions, but the most fatal flaw of all was that in practice, it simply wasn’t possible for a state-driven economy to compete with the market’s invisible hand.
Faced now with a different kind of threat - if anything, an even more implacable, inhumane and existentially embittered enemy - I am reminded of another quote from Revel’s book: “Civilizations losing confidence in themselves: an old story in history‚Ķ civilization must choose between suicide and servitude.‚Äù Or dhimmitude, perhaps - but not until it’s time.
I’m growingly concerned that we underestimate the threat arrayed against us: While we at home are not faced with the kind of demographic time-bomb that ticks in Western Europe - and about which Mark Steyn has written so eloquently - a hasty retreat from the battlefields of Babylon will have unpredictable consequences in the here and now in a region of critical economic interest: Resources are growingly constrained even as new markets emerge to compete for them - this meta-trend has consequences.
And worse even than having our economic choices dictated to us in the bloody aftermath which fills the void we leave behind is the growing sense that all of this is our own fault, that none of it is worth fighting for - we lose confidence in ourselves. We lost confidence in the previous congressional majority because of their members’ public venality, private corruption and their dilatory stewardship of the public trust. And now, having voted into power the only plausible alternative, we are faced with a new congressional leadership that seeks to masquerade its manifest intentions with parliamentary maneuver, afraid and unwilling to accept the consequences or accountability for the actions they would, through walling off alternatives, seek to impose:
Mr. Murtha has a different idea. He would stop the surge by crudely hamstringing the ability of military commanders to deploy troops. In an interview carried Thursday by the Web site MoveCongress.org, Mr. Murtha said he would attach language to a war funding bill that would prohibit the redeployment of units that have been at home for less than a year, stop the extension of tours beyond 12 months, and prohibit units from shipping out if they do not train with all of their equipment. His aim, he made clear, is not to improve readiness but to “stop the surge.” So why not straightforwardly strip the money out of the appropriations bill — an action Congress is clearly empowered to take — rather than try to micromanage the Army in a way that may be unconstitutional? Because, Mr. Murtha said, it will deflect accusations that he is trying to do what he is trying to do. “What we are saying will be very hard to find fault with,” he said.
Thus, leadership - hence, courage.
Mr. Murtha would clearly like for us to believe that he is merely attempting to do the “right thing,” both for the country and the troops. Why then this charade? Why this attempted perversion of the constitution to effect in a slow series of ever-more restrictive bonds what he must believe his party was elected to effect and which is well within their constitutional grasp using the power of the purse? Why not just act in consonance with the dictates of his conscience, and with what he no doubt understands to be the will of the people?
It can only be because he fears to be associated with the consequences of the course of action he clearly means to impose. It can only be because he cares less about his convictions - what’s good for the country and the troops - than for his own political reputation and future. No other conclusion is possible. The lesson we take away from this is that for many powerful members of the political class, power is the only thing that really matters. Not power to do good, but power in its own right.
And who will fight for that?
The West won through to victory in the Cold War because while both ideologies aggressively competed to provide the best standard of living for the most number of people, only one could actually do so. In our current ideological struggle we are fighting in a differing domain than our adversary: The violent, radical Islamist doesn’t promise us a better standard of living, nor the freedom of choice that market economies leverage to reward the energies of market winners. Instead, he offers us a blanket and uniformly enforced poverty of worldly experience to go with his promise of a better life hereafter. We cannot win this struggle through military power alone - we cannot kill our way to “winning hearts and minds” - but neither should we abandon those who counted upon us, and our own self-interest, in the name of transient political advantage.
This is President’s Day weekend, dedicated in part to one Abraham Lincoln, who famously said:
We can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
That, by the way, is the motto of the USS Abraham Lincoln: Shall not perish.
Think of it as a prayer.
36 responses so far ↓
1 Blue Crab Boulevard » Bad Intentions, Badly Handled // Feb 17, 2007 at 4:22 pm
[...] Others commenting on the sleazy maneuvering of John Murtha: QandO, Decision '08, Redstate, Neptunus Lex, Right Wing Nut House, Riehl World View, Let Freedom Ring, "7.62mm [...]
2
unkawill
// Feb 17, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Now That’s Why I come here.
Well said Cap’n, Agree completely.
3
SJBill
// Feb 17, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Lex,
I am not a pathetic suck-up kind of person. That said, this post is one of the more insightful observations on the state of our nation.
You even see signs of hope.
I do not know how to give these words more exposure, however I shall endeavor to do so.
Very respectfully,
-SJBill
4
Ens Tim
// Feb 17, 2007 at 5:00 pm
It’s interesting to note that there is no outcry from those voters who have chosen this “party of change” for our new congress. Quite eloquently stated by our esteemed narrator, this is more of the same spineless nothingness from the current majority party, yet, the electorate who were so convinced they were making a difference through their vote are as of yet remaining silent to the inefficacy of that vote. Sometimes it’s hard to see what’s going on through all this wool.
5
FbL
// Feb 17, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Looking, I’ve been looking forward to your thoughts on this and I see that was not in vain…
Thanks for articulating what I cannot, and for making me think.
6
Jason
// Feb 17, 2007 at 5:44 pm
and Murtha is a Marine for God’s sake! Unreal. Again it makes me wonder how anyone could be a Democrat and have or currently serve in the military.
7
Pixelkiller
// Feb 17, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Thanks for this Lex. This is why I visit at least once a day. I have sent this along to as many as I could, but alas, I think too many of them are too committed to their “points-of-view” to be persuaded, or even moved enough to question those views.
Again, Thanks.
ps: good luck on your dissertation. What’s in on by-the-way?
8
unkawill
// Feb 17, 2007 at 6:30 pm
I’ll suck some more SJBill, LEX for CNO!
9
Idaho Joe
// Feb 17, 2007 at 6:39 pm
Proverbial nail smacked firmly on its head.
Thanks Captain Lex.
10
unkawill
// Feb 17, 2007 at 6:39 pm
Shoulda been “suck-up”!
11
GEO6
// Feb 17, 2007 at 6:58 pm
As usual our host proves the master of the English language in the written word. An honor, sir.
By the way, a term that kept coming to mind after having read this fine, particularly from the period of Lincoln: “Copperheads”
12
FbL
// Feb 17, 2007 at 8:09 pm
GE06,
Copperheads, you say? Here you go…
13
PeterGunn
// Feb 17, 2007 at 9:48 pm
I like what you’ve said here very much, Lex!
The problem with the electorate in November was what they didn’t realize about the previous Congressional leadership: Evil is a human condition, not a cultural one. It seems now that the Repulicans may have lost last fall because when presented with evil, they failed to recognize and identify it for what it was.
My concern now is with those in charge, who are not confident in their own beliefs, or even know what they believe about our Republic. What will it take to wake them from their self-imposed malaise? I believe that’s why we must work and believe so hard in who we are, what we stand for… and hope that may be enough to keep us all aware. (My confidence in the self-recognition and realization by our current House and Senate leaders wanes.) If not, I fear the loss necessary to show them the way! God forbid another infamous day when we would hear a foreign military commander’s lament that all they had done was to “awaken a sleeping giant”.
The Abraham Lincoln is a fixture in our local waters, home-ported just 10 miles away. Visiting her with our local Boy Scout troop was a thrill and a proof for the boys and leaders, alike.
Many of us memorized those words in grade school… AMEN!
14
Justthisguy
// Feb 18, 2007 at 12:38 am
That is one of the reasons why I have not yet quit drinking. I want to be numb, I tell you, when they come for me.
Not so numb that I can’t shoot straight, though.
15
badbob
// Feb 18, 2007 at 5:26 am
Unlike #4 I am a shameless butt-shark! LOL.
Excellente! The philosophical, the present situation, the shamelessly defective Murtha..all tied to President’s Day. Powerfull.
A predictably more blunt observation was made by Peters in the NY Post y’all may find interesting:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/02172007/news/columnists/cowards_give_up_on_gis____give_in_to_evil_columnists_ralph_peters.htm?page=2
I was especially struck his:
“The “nonbinding resolution” telling the world that we intend to surrender to terrorism and abandon Iraq may be the most disgraceful congressional action since the Democratic Party united to defend slavery.”
b2
16
sid
// Feb 18, 2007 at 6:26 am
Wonderful dissertation (as usual) Captain.
17
Phil Andrilla
// Feb 18, 2007 at 6:45 am
Give this a read: http://www.ushistory.org/Paine/crisis/c-01.htm This is the famous Thomas Paine, “These are the times that try men’s souls” essay, The Crisis.
Now history is repeating itself. The protection we once enjoyed as a result of our continent’s geography and our open willingness to invite the help of our Christian God is no longer of benefit as our leaders seem to have abandoned Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and our border has too long been ignored.
Is the mess we’re in irretrievable? Certainly not.However, the charismatic leaders in Washington that could, are leading us in the WRONG DIRECTION as your post so aptly notes.
18 Chapomatic » Murtha And How Democracies Perish // Feb 18, 2007 at 8:58 am
[...] Bob was right: Lex’s latest is a corker. Go ye and read of [...]
19
Subsunk
// Feb 18, 2007 at 10:32 am
Capt Lex,
What profundity. How piercing and yet how savage is thy wit. Pray, give us the wisdom and strength to survive the coming peril, prevent the loss of our Sons in vain, and survive to see a new dawn of Freedom in this world.
Without Men like you, I’m not sure we are strong enough to Win that Freedom.
Subsunk
20
STEVEC
// Feb 18, 2007 at 10:52 am
Great post, Lex.
There’s days where I’m looking for that yellow / black stripped handle.
With the current “leadership” in Congress, the condition of the conservative movement which lacks a (needed) Reagan-style leader, and our lack of coherent and dedicated leadership from the White House - it sometimes really sucks to be me.
21
sid
// Feb 18, 2007 at 11:10 am
Since there is no way I will ever be this eloquent, I have sent the above to my Congressman (a backlash Democrat who voted yes for last week’s Resolution), along with a top note that I intend to devote as much energy and effort I can spare to see that he is a one term Representative if continues to support this disgraceful party line…
22
kat-missouri
// Feb 18, 2007 at 12:28 pm
First, great post Lex.
Second, thank you FbL for linking me here and for all the lovely patrons who have stopped by to read up on the snakes on capitol hill.
Third, thank you Lex for the space.
And, finally, one must note that, of all the things the Democrats could have done to galvanize the rather sleeping right, here it is.
I have probably seen more people writing the words “I am going to work to get x out of office” or they are going to write or they are going to do something.
And, yes, I suspect that this is just the first shot over the bow so to speak and the firing from both sides will become even more shrill than the 2004 elections.
But, I don’t despair. i feel energized already.
In the mean time, we need redouble our efforts in supporting our men and women so that they do not become discouraged as we continue our debate.
Soldiers Angels is a great place to start.
23
AW1 Tim
// Feb 18, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Shipmates,
I would like to post here some comments I made over to the good Cdr. Salamanders place. It’s how I believe the situation might best be resolved, and best of all, there’s ample historical precedence for it. To wit:
———
“Many of these ills can be cured by a simple application of a poultice, made of warm tar & feathers, over the general body of the patient. After this, a short trip into the country upon a “rail” conveyance, whereby the applicant may enjoy fully the fresh air, and rest for such time as the body politic feels sufficient to effect a cure, if a cure is indeed possible.
Such treatments have, in the past, been shown to be quite effective in ridding the body politic of various forms of louse, parasites, and other irritants, and it is hoped that by swift application of this prescription, a more healthy and energetic patient will be seen, and that none to soon.”
Respects,
24
Sweeper
// Feb 18, 2007 at 6:23 pm
Well said. But what do we do in the next two years? The President needs to ignore the political class and put 400,000 men in Iraq with orders to do what is necessary to keep the peace. They may need to stay there for several years or until they are needed in Syria and Lebanon. We do not need new, expanded bases in Germany. We do not need troops in So. Korea or any other place in the world right now. If we need to become a benevolent dictator for a short time to allow Iraq to develop its own system, so be it. We did it in Germany and Japan after world war II. We must do it again.
25
TallDave
// Feb 18, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Remember in 1998, everyone could see the difference between W Germany and E Germany, but no one imagined that in 4 years the Soviet Union would be gone forever.
This is why Iraq must succeed. The Mideast needs a non-Jewish W Germany, a regional exemplar of what free minds can accomplish. These governments can’t escape the power of freedom forever.
26
TallDave
// Feb 18, 2007 at 6:33 pm
1988 above, of course.
27
Papa Ray
// Feb 18, 2007 at 6:46 pm
Outstanding..!!
Yep, you missed your calling. I wish you were on a ballot that I could vote for.
Alas, there is only chum and sharks in the water.
Papa Ray
West Texas
USA
28
ASM826
// Feb 18, 2007 at 7:02 pm
One more thing that will certainly happen is that the same weakness and fear that Congress has been showing when they look toward Iraq will be expressed again when they look inward.
This same bunch will see the very people that elected them as a threat. What measures they will take against us is yet to be seen. But I assure you, in the name of protecting us, the last pieces of the Bill of Rights, will be shredded.
29 NixGuy.com » Murtha and the War // Feb 19, 2007 at 3:30 am
[...] new-to-me blog (HT to Insty) Neptunus Lex: Mr. Murtha would clearly like for us to believe that he is merely attempting to do the ?¢‚Ǩ?ìright [...]
30
vic
// Feb 19, 2007 at 4:06 pm
I find the Gettysburg Address to be one of the greatest pieces of oratory of all time. It chokes me up to even read it, the intensity of the moment still hangs so heavily among the words Lincoln spoke.
It is unfortunate that we find ourselves with our (and the good Iraqi’s/Arabs’/Muslims’) ability to succeed in this crucial war - not just the battle of Iraq, but the entire war - seemingly held hostage to bottom-feeding politicians like Murtha. This does not bode well.
And yet, surfing around the web to various blogs’ comments sections, there’s no shortage of Republicans either who vow to boycott a presidential election if a non-socially-conservative candidate is the proposed alternative to whomever the party of “redeployment” nominates. Clearly, in the electorate no one party holds a monopoly on misplaced priorities.
Unfortunately, by this time in the struggle I’m increasingly finding my thoughts moving beyond the anger and urgency into a state of numbed acceptance that there will be “next times” in our cities, and planning how to prepare myself and family for the next several decades of uncertainty.
I used to marvel at the concept of “fallout shelters” and how widespread they were, and in the 90’s things like that were easy to write off as a mass-societal paranoid episode. Now, in the last 5ish years it’s become much clearer how the people of that era must have felt about the threats they faced. We now face a different-faced version of a similarly existential threat.
31
Ben
// Feb 19, 2007 at 6:18 pm
This is my first visit here. I normally vote Democrat and consider myself well left of center, but this is an excellent, excellent post - it acknowleges complexity of the “hearts and minds” issues yet voices concerns about abandoning Iraq to something worse.
I feel exactly the same way. I despise how the administration got us into this war, and I am appalled by how it has been conducted. Yet my big fear at the moment is that things will go even further to hell if we just yank everyone out.
In large part, McCain’s honesty on this issue (and his military experience) is why he is still the only Republican who might get my vote.
In any case, I’m hopeful that I have found a site for the kind of thoughtful Republicans with whom I can respectfully disagree and sometimes side with. Nice job.
32
unkawill
// Feb 19, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Ben,
That is what we are all about.
Civilized discourse.
33
Daveg
// Feb 20, 2007 at 5:50 am
McCain?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s honesty on this issue (and his military experience) is why he is still the only Republican…
McCain is a Republican??? Who knew!
34 andreas04: close to attraction // Feb 20, 2007 at 5:53 am
[...] way. He’s like that. Lex is always a good read. He is, however, exceptional at times. “How Democracies Perish” is one of those exceptional times. Parts: And worse even than having our economic choices [...]
35
AW1 Tim
// Feb 20, 2007 at 10:53 am
Jadegold,
The same might well be asked of you regarding Lex.
Respects,
36 Neptunus Lex » The Great Communicator // Feb 25, 2007 at 3:02 pm
[...] of last week’s John Murtha “Support the troops by starving them of support” fiasco was this insightful bit of insider analysis: “The cognoscenti is upset because [...]
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