Leading America for America’s sake

There is the constant concern by many citizens that too many “uninformed” citizens may vote, and often in uninformed ways. There are enough surveys and “polls” that lend credence to this fear. In turn, the fear is amplified by the thought that media manipulators, hired by politicians seeking power, and donated money paying TV and radio ads, may get to these same “uninformed” citizens. The often quoted phrase attributed to Abraham Lincoln still seems very American today: You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.

This most astute phrase is still important today for two good reasons. One is that our Constitution set up a republic, not a democracy. A republic assumes our national politicians will act in our National Interests first and foremost. Second in importance is an idea seldom mentioned: just what are our national politicians doing to take care of the “informed” citizens. They vote too, and usually in higher percentages. Most “informed” citizens are watching to see just who is important to the politicians. The leadership principle is too obvious. The “informed” watch what the politicians are doing, and if they like what they see they tell others and bring them in. If they see the politicians and leaders focus on the “uninformed”, then most of the “informed” quietly vote with their feet and leave, and tell others. Later they even politically vote. Entire military recruiting and manning campaigns, and the future of political parties strengths, ride on this most fundamental leadership principle.

When the Democratic political party appears to skew to an activist minority of their base, they threaten their existence as many “informed” citizens watch. Assuming the conventional Democratic wisdom of going left in the primaries, and then center in the main election, then those practicing this scheme are playing with fire betting the Democratic party’s future. Too many “informed” citizens are now watching to see if their interests are being represented, or even matter. One cannot fool all the people in spite of the best professional media efforts. And if this fails, then that is why we have a republic to elect politicians to act in our National Interests. This logic suggests the American political world has changed, or at least is changing. Somebody better pay attention to the “informed”. The winners will.