All Ye Who Dare Oppose Tyranny, Stay Home

The important thing about progress is the point upon which we are supposedly converging. This point must be defined and it must offer a genuine improvement over the current predicament. To a conservative then, progress in the political realm would mean a growth in, or at least the preservation of civil liberties, coupled with a decrease in the size as well as the invasiveness of the governmental authorities. These aspects of the federal government satisfy the second part of the definition on the point of progress, and the first element is satisfied by the partial achievement of these qualities.

The degree of progress is irrelevant. So long as we march east, however slowly, we shall reach the coast at some point. The direction is most important; marching west will find us arriving at an altogether different coast. Thus, a conservative president can be tolerated, and even supported so long as he marches, even if he merely shuffles, along the right path. It may be frustrating to have to crawl so conservatively, but with patience, our progeny will see the completion of our attempts at progress.

However, so long as a politician, ostensibly conservative or no, refuses to guard essential liberty, increases the size and span of the federal government, he cannot be supported. It is impossible to insist that Bush has governed like a conservative. Yes, he has cut taxes, but the limitation of funds for the monolithic beast in Washington has done nothing to curb her appetite, and indeed, Bush continues to feed her on a money supply that continues to dwindle in purchasing power.

An infinite sequence of presidents in the mold of George W. Bush will see us no longer a republic, but a totalitarian realm. Kerry may have taken us down this road more quickly—though it is difficult to see how—but it matters not whether we take the city bus or pedal on bicycles on our merry way to Hell.

It it his good fortune that he is a lame duck, for it is highly unlikely the public could stomach, let alone sanction, six more years the leadership of the former Texas governor. Yet Congress is not bridled by term limits, and the entirety of the House, as well as a third of the Senate is up for re-elections as is customary. It is unfortunate that the impending dread at having to face the electorate, which our representative must surely feel, has been unable to spur them to adopt the term limits which their predecessors so happily imposed on the head of the Executive branch.

Yet living, as we do, within a republic, at least for the time being, we have the opportunity to impose de facto, if not de jure, term limits upon our laudable representatives. It is, perhaps, tempting to engage in what is often referred to as a civic duty. It is with a heavy heart then, that I implore the reader to stay home come November.

As we have previously touched upon, the federal government continues to grow. Bush has been fairly blamed, but responsibility, or rather, irresponsibility, extends to the Republican controlled Congress as well, which has declared itself a willing accomplice in Bush's crusade to destroy whatever victories conservatism has won in recent years. By sanctioning those who govern as enemies of conservatism, Congress has shown herself unworthy of our votes.

It is curious to note that, while many Americans share my resentment for Congress, most hold no ill will towards their own representatives who is, quite obviously not part of the problem. As this behavior is exemplified in each and every state, to quote Tolkien, they were all of them, deceived. It is possible that the number of good representatives could fit into a geo metro, but it is unlikely that they could fill even a mid-sized SUV. Unless your man answers to "Tancredo", he doesn't deserve a single vote.

The common reply to this insistence against voting is that, "You have to vote. It's your right." As it is also the "right" of women to procure abortions, this reply is utterly illogical. A right to own slaves, say, is not a right one should be proud in exercising. Likewise, so long as the right to vote will only result in the sanction of varying shades of evil, it cannot be engaged in by the moral soul.

Another common, and equally preposterous, conjecture is that "If you don't vote, you don't have the right to complain." Although Badnarick was probably thankful for my vote, I would have done just as well to have written in Mickey Mouse--or stayed home. It is asinine to suppose that my right to complain is tied to making a false choice. It is akin to telling a condemned man, that because he was reluctant to designate the mode of his death, he has no right to be resentful that he must indeed die.

The last rebuttal is that staying home doesn't accomplish anything. Aside from the obvious benefit the hours not spent standing in line may give, there is a more permanent and lasting effect. A free conscience is a worthy prize, and one that cannot be gained by participating in the circus known as the general election. Further, the Christian believes that he must answer to God at the final judgment. It is unlikely that Christ will take to task the man for not stopping the inevitable. The world, after all, belongs, not to Jesus, but to the Prince of Darkness, and the passing away of the American Republic, though regrettable, is also firmly within the confines of the Divine Will. While we will be, most of us, given passes on the issue of this latest great decline, we will be asked whether we aided those who would do evil upon the earth. High taxes and an overbearing government are one thing, but the inability to do anything to stop—and indeed, the apathy towards—the atrocity of abortion by supposed conservative Christians in Washington must weigh heavily upon the good Christian soul.

When the Good Lord comes to separate the sheep and the goats, will a vote for a lesser evil be something to be proud of, or will it be something that causes one to hang one's head in shame? To whom will Christ say, "Depart from me ye accursed." and to whom will he turn to welcome joyfully into the Kingdom of God?

It is not my place to answer, but it would be wise to mull this over before Election Day. It is easy to decide whom to vote for if one must vote; it is more difficult to decide whether we are to vote at all.