Rise of the Independents

Eric Wilson - 2012

The two-party system of American politics is already dead.  Both have either become aristocrats or servants to them.  No matter whose side you think is here to save you, one thing is for certain – government will get bigger and more powerful.  Under the Democrats, it will grow for social re-engineering and redistribution.  Under the Republicans, it will grow to promote global empires, be the social police, and prop up corporations.  Regardless of which is in power, one set of people will be taking advantage of another set of people.  The elections just determine which side is which.

The new aristocracy is running both sides of the debate, and – no matter who seems to win –

we keep getting screwed.  Judging from the talking heads, they are all stuck in this paradigm.  Judging from the recent elections, so are we as voters.  A new era is upon us, one ruled by the status quo with each of us as its willing servants.  It is a “democratic aristocracy” which uses governments, markets, and media to increase its power and its wealth.  Our only hope against it stands in the form of the fading concept of independence.  It is an idea from the past and – while considered outdated – its time is not over.

We keep hearing that America is in an economic crisis.  I contend the problem is much deeper, and we are in a political crisis.  Will people continue to turn to government on either side of the aisle to solve our problems?  Or will we

look to ourselves to apply initiative, self-sacrifice, self-reliance, resourcefulness, and tenacity to restore that idea of freedom again?

While we no longer find our answers from the “R’s and D’s,” we do still have an option, and the choice is simple.  The defining characteristic of an aristocratic society is a collection of people who consider themselves limited, stuck, or dependent.  The defining characteristic of an independent is an individual who puts aside party labels or limits and views themselves as self-sufficient and capable.  The American Dream is not a government program or a guaranteed success.  It is a state of mind, a choice to be better and work harder and take the risks to succeed independently.

Our children will live their lives based on the ramifications of our choices – either free or stuck in whatever level of aristocracy we pass on to them.  While the message of fear is the next big crisis and how they can fix it, we must consider the unspoken costs to our liberties.  While to get ahead in aristocratic terms means to rise up within the system, the call of the independent must be to restore a system that is free.  It is clear the era of aristocracy is now upon us…unless a new generation of self-governing leaders and a truly independent party soon arises.