Another Golden Age (Butler Shaffer)

Butler Shaffer on Obama following in the footsteps of the tyrants Lincoln and FDR:

The song-and-dance is in full tempo, the world now being informed of a new "golden age" that promises national "greatness," but - as with such ages from the past - will only end up intensifying state power, massive wartime deaths, and economic destruction. A one-word definition of such a phenomenon is "empire" (oops, make that "Empire").

Not one to be late energizing a public mindset on behalf of the "greatness" to be bestowed by the election of Obama the Enlightened Communicator, CNN has a news report with the following words appearing at the bottom of the screen: "Obama's To-Do List: Taking a Cue from Abe and FDR." How encouraging. Each of these slugs was responsible for increasing, exponentially, the powers of government; generating economic dislocation; and helping to slaughter tens of millions of humans in two major wars (618,000 deaths by Lincoln in the U.S. Civil War, and from 50 to 70 million deaths to which FDR contributed during World War II)!

Yet another specter of political supereminence with which to keep the statist misanthropes entertained, and the boobeoisie basking in a dimly-reflected glory, as Obama channels the spirits of two of the most destructive of past presidents. Unless the entire system collapses of its own dead weight and contradictions, those who survive this impending holiday for political visionaries will be left with the task of cleaning up the detritus, in time for a future god-king to "take a cue from Abe, FDR, and Obama."