What if we lose the war?
By we I mean the party that believes in truth, justice, equal opportunity, decency, compassion, science, sense, and the rule of law. Our enemies favor lying, iniquity, cruelty, nonsense, and the rule of force. Pro-democracy vs. pro-tyranny: a tension as old as governance itself.
That we’re at war is finally acknowledged by both sides. Our side, the democrats (small d), wasted decades treating our differences with our opponents as the sort democracy encourages. Let each side present its case and the people decide. If you lose an election, that’s democracy in action, better luck next time.
The pro-tyrannists, for decades, plotted the destruction of democracy using democracy’s tools. Free speech meant freedom to lie, buy elections, bribe judges. Fair play meant win at any cost. Honesty and sincerity were niceties for sissies. Give the tyrannists credit, they were consistent and disciplined in their preparations, while the democrats consoled themselves with high-minded moans. “This could never happen here!” we insisted while it was happening. Shame on us – but no use grousing. However we got to Armageddon, here we are. Our focus must be on defeating our foes and, if we’re so lucky, winning the peace. Or, if we lose, adapting ourselves to our altered state.
How altered it’s chilling to anticipate. Truth and science will be nixed, which dare to refute fiats. Only yes-people will be permitted. Compliance will be demanded and freedoms curtailed. We will be less free to think, move, act, worship, dress, make, eat, paint, perform, dance, invent, play, love as we please – for tyrants (correctly) view nonconformity as corrosive to their rule. Our standard of living will decline – which Americans would exchange their home life with a Russian or Chinese? A pall of fear will fog our national spirit. More duty, less gaiety. God help critics of the Leader’s sycophantic Ideal!
Not only joy but the energies of science, art, intellect, technology, invention will sputter, because progress depends on innovation, which tyrants resent. To our Nameless One, “great” means a yesteryear of white male farmers tilling the fields, bossing their wives and kids, and swapping yarns – a fever-dream of the dispossessed.
There can be no negotiated settlement to this Second Civil War, no geographical realignment, because our differences are ideological, not material. Our side wants more individual freedom, responsibility, diversity, innovation, intelligence; theirs less. Our side believes in self-government, with all its frustrations; theirs favors acquiescence to a controlling authority. Neither can dwell contentedly in a nation governed by the other. The choice for losers will be to change their address or change their minds.
It is healthful, not morbid, to confront the consequences of defeat, for that will fortify our zeal to resist. To sugarcoat prospects is to invite calamity. The only winners in a tyranny are the tyrant and his toadies and they not for long. Few tyrants die in their beds of natural causes. And who wants to wake to the baleful gaze of slaves envisioning your demise? I hate being hated, even by those I hate.
This war will not be prolonged. The Nameless One understands he must steal America fast if he’s to get away with it. Once the Congress, Business, and People abandon him, the military will resist his command to slaughter fellow citizens. (Yes, it will come to that.) Our side, caught flat-footed, has yet to settle on our tactics or leaders, but we will because we must. Meanwhile, friends, we must ready ourselves to resist – or decamp. We’re all enlisted, like it or not. No opt-out option’s on offer, alas.