The fog of politics was frustrating to voters, especially during the Civil War era. An Illinois senator, Lyman Trumbull claimed party affiliations with the Democrats, the Republicans, the Liberal Republicans, and finally the Democrats again. As chairman of the Judiciary Committee he co-wrote the 13th amendment. Trumbull’s position on many issues took on the aspect of smoke and mirrors. No voter really understood this politician’s position from one day to the next. Pork barrel promises dictated so much affiliation that it became nearly impossible to fathom the real issues of the time. That “political fog” exists today, obscuring the dynamics of the current crisis that our country faces.
The following quotes were attributed to Abraham Lincoln, however they were legitimately authored by William J. H. Boecker in the early 20th century. In this writers opinion, they could have originated from the Bible, Shakespeare, Franklin, Jefferson or Lincoln and apply to current events.
Bummer
- “You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
- You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
- You cannot help little men by tearing down big men.
- You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
- You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
- You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money.
- You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
- You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.
- You cannot build character and courage by destroying men’s initiative and independence.
- And you cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they can and should do for themselves.”
