The greatest threat to America’s continued existence as a viable democratic nation and a world-class power is located within leadership across all major institutions.
Leadership corruption and immorality have led far too many Americans to cynicism and distrust, as well as to a reduction in the spiritual commitment to the tenets that bind us rather than fragment us.
Democracies are bloodier than either aristocracies or monarchies. They never last long – they soon waste, exhaust and annihilate themselves. (John Adams)
When members of the leadership cadre commit ethical violations, by word or deed, however slight, and irrespective of their asserted “good intentions,” e.g., to “take America back,” they teach and incite the people by their example, making them susceptible to psychological manipulation. Wrong-doing on high breeds contempt for law and order, broadens and deepens ethical devolution by increasing numbers of people, and incites weak-minded people to become laws unto themselves, which is the ultimate definition of anarchy.
More Americans have adopted, fomented, and committed acts against “others” commensurate with self-defined American patriotism, chauvinism, and xenophobia. People now perpetrate violence and spout abuse they had kept silent about in recent decades, or only said privately with kindred spirits, before the “Age of Obama.”
Having hardly anything to do with his political affiliation, and nearly everything to do with his race, Barack Obama’s rise to leadership of this nation became a rallying cry for evil-sayers and evil-doers. We have always had Paranoid Conspiracy Lunatics; but today, extremist behavior that was once relegated to the “lunatic-fringe” is now openly embraced by “mainstream” leaders and leadership-pretenders primarily because it promotes their selfish interests.
Anarchy’s principal spawn is our HATE GROUPS, which have increased dramatically in number and power in recent years.*
The number of the largest and most volatile hate organizations, combined, increased from 1,248 in 2008 to 1,753 in 2009 – 40 percent.
Anti-government groups grew 813 percent – from 149 in 2008 to 1,360 in 2012. Militia Organizations rose from 42 in 2008 to 127 in 2009.
Nativist groups jumped from 173 in 2008 to 309 in 2009, a spike of nearly 80 percent.
General Hate Groups, ranging from racists, to homophobics, to religious hate groups, saw a 55 percent increase over the past decade and their numbers remain at record levels.
Anti-Black hate crimes jumped nearly 8 percent in 2008 over 2007.
Death Threats against President Obama increased 400 percent over those against President Bush.
People who allow their minds to be corrupted by the absurd rantings of conspiracy-lunatics, usually willingly, are quite unlikely to change their minds even in the face of rational arguments and massive, clear evidence that counters their convictions. They are not inclined to rely on the democratic process, favoring violence over the vote; and they blame scapegoats for all the ills of society. Their own freedom is not as relevant to them as destroying people they hate because of religious, political, racial or cultural differences.
That the desires of the majority of the people are often for injustice and inhumanity against the minority, is demonstrated on every page of history. (John Adams)
The animosity toward “those other people” by members of America’s hate groups puts them in the same mental category with the senseless fanatics who hate others so deeply that they strap bombs to themselves to blow them up. As Voltaire said, they believe absurdities, so they commit atrocities.
The sentiment — death before dishonoring my personal beliefs — prevails in their frames-of-reference and drives their decision-making process to an extreme, inane philosophy; for example: I would rather see millions of Americans suffer badly than be presided over by a Black man or support him for the greater good.
Current and aspirant leaders who assert themselves as examples of virtue and national salvation, yet live decadent lives, are especially loathsome, for they are then prepared for every other crime against humanity. They are true traitors to the American Creed and detrimental to civic responsibility. The longer such frauds have lived such hypocrisy and the more benefits, cheers and “honors” deceived citizens have heaped on them, the less probable they will ever change.
Their lives, so lacking in human sentiment and valid nationalism, represent the lowest rung in civilized society. Whether it is men in white hoods, black judicial robes, business attire, religious mantles, or legislative garb, when they do wrong, however sincerely they express their sentiments, and no matter how popular their cause may be in certain circles, real Americans will always stand up in opposition. Authentic Americanism is defined by those who do not support, ignore, or pander to anyone who would fragment “We The People” into hostile factions and retard the development of our sense of a national community.
*Southern Poverty Law Center
