Long after Civil War, new divisions arise

As the nation remembers the opening shots of its darkest days on the 150th anniversary of the “Civil War,” which supposedly made us one nation, the divisions run just as deep. An inefficient, paternalistic nanny state on the European model is failing and driving us to bankruptcy. Unrestrained capitalism on Wall Street in symbiotic counterstep with Washington contorts us through inevitable boom and bust cycles. Higher taxes are supposed to suppress job creation, but the continuation of tax cuts have yet to generate the jobs promised. Each side postures as the “grown-up”, both feet planted solidly in the sandbox.

While everyone agrees, at least in principle, fiscal irresponsibility is the underlying cause, we cannot reach a point where fixing the problem is more important than attaching blame and protecting turf. We have become two antagonists under the same roof who fight out of habit. Ain’t it great Lincoln “preserved the union?”

The simple fact is that many of our Founders did not believe in a perpetual union and just as we separated from (and later became closest allies with) Great Britain it is natural regions would evolve in their own way and restrained government should evolve to serve them. We have managed to “preserve a union” which serves no one, except our masters on Wall Street and Washington. Between them they have managed to gut the Constitution that was designed to serve us, the American citizen, we the people! I do not see how we can long survive as one nation or that a union of warring factions is even worth preserving. One player in 1861 saw the issue perfectly when he wrote, “I love the Union and the Constitution. But I would rather leave the Union with a Constitution than remain in the Union without one.” So would I!

Steve Quick

Arlington Heights