Columns

Will history repeat itself?

DONALD MYERS, A Mind of
Published: November 17, 2012

I have always thought that the study of history was fascinating and enlightening. It was one of my favorite subjects when I was in school and I continue to enjoy reading about it. It absolutely amazes me when I hear people state that history is boring.

I suspect that they must have had terrible teachers in their school years and now they have an aversion to reading.

The study of American history is especially fascinating when one considers that although we are a young country, we are the most powerful nation in history. Revolutions normally occur when people who are discontent with their status in life as defined by their government.

The leaders in our revolution were not poor, but educated and mostly very well off financially. They desired freedom. Many of those lost everything during that war to include their lives or the lives of their family. They left to us a constitution that has stood the test of time.

We fought a Civil War that was the bloodiest of all our conflicts. We also have come to the aid of others throughout the world and provided the elements to either maintain or regain their freedom. We rebuilt Europe and Japan following World War II. We saved Berlin when the Russians blockaded that city.

We also have made mistakes during our existence, but when compared to the good that we achieved throughout our history, there is no country in history with a comparable record.

Nationally, we witness a bloodless revolution every four years at our presidential elections. We have seen political parties come and go, but the current parties are the oldest and third oldest in the world.

Each party has had its great times and not so great times. In 1994, the republicans won control of the House of Representatives for the first time in 40 years. The republicans made that particular election a national one with a push of "The Contract with America." Americans were incensed with congress using the congressional bank as a slush fund and with the government trying to implement Hillary Care. Those two issues were the major reasons for the Democrats losing control of congress.

As the years passed, the republican congress increased spending and many thought that the way to be reelected was to provide more goodies to the electorate. In 2006, the Democrats regained control of both houses and in 2008 Barack Obama was elected president. At that time, it looked as though the Republican Party would be in the minority for decades. Leadership and message were both lacking in the Republican Party.

When the new administration took charge, spending increased to unsustainable levels and national health care was pushed against the will of the people. Meetings were in secret and special provisions were given to reluctant senators and congressmen in order to get their votes. A grass roots group called The Tea Party arose and held gatherings against spending and taxes.

This was a conservative group that preached smaller government, lower taxes, and less regulations. The media paid little attention and the group grew. This was the first time in my lifetime that people on the right were demonstrating.

They usually are too busy working and raising their families to have time for demonstrating, but now they were concerned about the direction of the country and what it would do to their children and grandchildren. Candidates were entered into republican primaries and many won.

When the election occurred in 2008, the republicans unexpectedly regained the majority. The Republicans gained seats at every level of government and added to governorships. Unfortunately, there are some in the republican party who do not agree with The Tea Party and some of their values.

We have now had our latest election cycle and the democrats gained seats in the senate and the president was reelected. Pundits state that the demographics favor the democrats and the republicans may be in for a long time as the minority party.

Recent history says that the obvious may not be true. The 1994, 2006, and 2010 elections were surprises because the opposite party was significantly aroused. If the administration continues to spend like there is no tomorrow, there will be consequences at the elections and history will repeat itself.

Donald J. Myers, a retired colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps, is a regular columnist for Hernando Today. He lives in Spring Hill and can be contacted at dmyersusmc@aol.com.