by Ray Keating
Hillary Clinton versus Donald Trump in November reminds me
of a U.S. political version of the Spanish Civil War. That is, when fascists
square off against communists, everyone loses in the end.
Of course, I might be stretching things, but bear with me.
First let’s get something straight about the Spanish Civil
War. In Spain in the late 1930s, the losses were grim, with hundreds of
thousands being killed at the hands of both fascists and communists. It’s odd
that to this very day, the American Left still views one side favorably in this
brutal conflict. In reality, the Spanish Civil War was not about forces of
democracy battling against Franco and the fascists. Rather, it was a power
struggle between two nearly indistinguishable ideologies that raise up the
state, crush the individual, and eradicate liberty. It was a matter who would
acquire power in order to expand government throughout the economy, society and
the culture. Franco and the fascists received aid from Germany and Italy, while
the so-called “republicans” or “loyalists” – that is, in reality, the
communists – were backed by the Soviet Union. It was a no-win scenario, to the
extreme.
As for the U.S., I pray that we never descend into such
chaos. But on a different level, an election between Hillary Clinton (or for
that matter, Bernie Sanders) and Donald Trump would wind up being another
no-win scenario.
There’s nothing secret about Hillary Clinton. She obviously
has dedicated her political life since becoming first lady to expanding the
size of the state in most aspects of life in the U.S., including increased
taxes, expanded regulations, more spending, and greater government control over
such areas as health care and education. Also, like her leftist allies,
including President Barack Obama, Clinton fails to recognize as legitimate
those opposing her views and policies.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has morphed his views – most
recently, flip-flopping on nearly every major issue – to fit his personal needs
and desires. When acting as a businessman, Trump contributed to Hillary
Clinton’s campaign, invited her to his wedding, and was friends with her. Now, with
his pursuit of the Republican presidential nomination, Trump opposes and
attacks Mrs. Clinton. This reality TV star stands out as a glaring example of
the inflated ego who seeks power, and is committed only to his personal power.
He certainly has little regard for the Constitution and our political process
given his lack of respect for the First Amendment, his unwillingness to reject
violence in support of his candidacy, his personal attacks on and thinly veiled
threats to anyone disagreeing with him, his bizarre claims that no one has been
treated as poorly as him in the history of politics, his disturbing
declarations on illegal orders he would give our military, his crudeness, and
his populist strategy of setting up the bogeyman of foreigners (see his
anti-trade and anti-immigration messages) as the causes of America’s woes.
The Spanish Civil War was a blood-soaked battle between
supporters of two ideologies that, in effect, were one and the same. They
struggled to see who would gain power, and be able to turn the power of the
state against the individual.
Meanwhile, the 2016 election in the U.S. provides little
hope that voters will have any kind of real choice at the ballot box. Assorted
conservatives and libertarians in recent times have rather childishly
complained that no real differences exist between Republicans and Democrats. Saying, for example, then that Republicans in control of the U.S. House of
Representatives are no different from President Barack Obama reveals a stunning
lack of discernment. However, worrying that, in the end, the policies served up
by a President Donald Trump would vary little from what a President Hillary
Clinton would impose is a very real concern, based on experience and the
realities we see at hand.
______________
Mr. Keating is an
economist and novelist who writes on a wide range of topics. His Pastor Stephen
Grant novels have received considerable acclaim, including The River: A Pastor
Stephen Grant Novel being a finalist for KFUO radio’s Book of the Year 2014,
and Murderer’s Row: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel winning Book of the Year 2015.
The Pastor Stephen
Grant Novels are available at Amazon…
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