“My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union.” – Abe Lincoln

Interesting concept that isn’t it? Doing what is right for the country instead of following your own personal set of opinions and ideas. The election of a few nights ago has really had me thinking, and I figured this would be a great topic for The Yeti’s triumphant return to Moodspins.

Okay.. I can’t resist the urge…

FINALLY THE YETI HAS COME BACK TO MOODSPINS

Phew, glad to have that out of my system.

Anyway, as you all know, or if you don’t you can find out from reading my past articles, my politics lie mostly to the right of center. Yet, I find myself sitting here in the fallout of this last election, not really licking my wounds over the fact that “the left” has regained control of congress, but more mourning the loss of my country.

Does this mean I think that the country is lost due to the Democrats? No. While they will make decisions I both agree and disagree with, they won’t do much more or less harm than their predecessors. They are one of the two wheels that drive the great bureaucracy and neither will do anything to destabilize their power base.

Isn’t that a funny thought though. Both parties in this country think of themselves first, the country second, and most likely the people third. For the last few months we’ve been inundated by ads showing us what a great person so and so is, or how horrible a person their opponent is. We’re told of their strong convictions and beliefs, and yet, none of them once mention the greater good. The good of the nation. The good of it’s citizens. “I believe in..” is something we’ve just got done hearing a lot, but honestly does what the candidate believes really matter? Honest Abe was a vehement anti-slavery proponent. He made passionate speeches as a congressmen about why slavery should end, and nearly ended his own career because of it. When the chips came down though and the tough decisions had to be made, he was willing to put his personal beliefs aside and do what was right for the country. Would our leaders now do the same? Would you? I’d like to say that I would, but who knows until you are there?

The man was a self-taught frontier lawyer who practiced law for the people. He taught himself what he needed to know to pass the bar exam. When he ran for president, his name didn’t even appear on 9 of the southern state’s ballots! He won with 39% of the popular vote and had four other viable candidates running against him. Would such a man win an election today? I dare say no. Could you imagine voting for someone who had 18 months of formal education? I wouldn’t. Yet this self educated man of the people really embodied what it means to be a public servant. Do to what’s right for the good of the nation.

Contrast that with what we’ve got today. Scandals, campaign finance, name calling, back room dealing, racketeering, bribes, corruption, the list goes on and on. The Law has ceased being a conduit for the people and has become an institution that is as much for itself as it is for the people that live under it. A solid fifty percent of the population doesn’t even care to have a say in who leads them, content to sit at home and watch TV or do whatever it is that prevented them from taking ten minutes out of their life to give a damn about the country in which they live.

It’s a scary comparison. One that only leads me to the conclusion that while not completely dead, this great experiment that is the United States of America is about to enter it’s death throes.

Can we save it? A good question. I’d like to think we can. For no other reason than to honor the memory of a frontier lawyer who was just doing what was best for the nation he loved.

Last 5 posts by Jeff Hopkins

• The Yeti Rants: The Change has Come to Town! - November 26th, 2008
• The Yeti Rants: Wall Street, Congress and Bailouts.. OH MY - October 8th, 2008
• The Yeti Rants: Obama vs. McCain... what's the difference? - June 23rd, 2008
• The Yeti Rants: A Democrat form of Government... - February 29th, 2008
• The Yeti Rants: It's Good to be Back! - January 30th, 2008