Introduction to ‘The Kindergarten Principles’

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I have an original theory to explore.  If you stick with me for a while, (as I publish this series in which I’ll present evidence backing up my theory), you may gain some insight as to why some of today’s politicians act the way they act, and say the things they say.  Even if you disagree with my take, read on anyway — you might find it amusing.

My theory had its beginning during the 2008 Democrat Primary, while the candidates were vying for the Democrat nomination for President of the United States.  It suddenly occurred to me that Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, John Edwards and the rest were sort of play-acting, somehow just going through the motions. Trading lines as if on stage, playing the roles of candidates.

It seemed like they were playing pretend politics.

They were the stars of ‘Let’s Have a Primary Campaign!’  Later, it was ‘Let’s Do an Election!’ and then ‘Let’s Have an Inauguration Party!’   I know America goes through the process of electing a president every 4 years — nothing new there — but it seemed to me that the Democrats were playing pretend politics in front of their favorite audience, the American people.

The concept of ‘playing politics’ is not new.  It’s decades old, if not centuries.  But my theory expands the concept.  What I see in today’s America is a Democrat Party with members that not only play politics — they play politics like they are play-acting in kindergarten class.

I began to test my theory by expanding my observations to the day-by-day U.S. political scene, focusing on the behavior of Democrats already in office.  Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Chuck Shumer, Barbara Boxer, Diane Feinstein, Ted Kennedy, Dick Durbin – the more visible and vocal of the Democrats we see regularly.  Sure enough, my overwhelming impression was that they were acting out the roles of government officials.  Senators, Congressmen, House Committee Chairmen, Speakers-of-the-House — all fun parts to act out, with lines and props and cameras and costumes and — okay, maybe not costumes.

The more I observe the activities and antics of the Democrats, the more my theory is confirmed.

Part of my theory is that this is not by accident.  I think liberals have recently discovered, or maybe crafted this method as an innovative, effective way of manipulating the 21st century American public.  Not with persuasive arguments.  Not with compelling, informative debate.  Not with logic, reason or genuine intellectual discussion.

No — liberals have figured out that the trick to dealing with the masses is to act as if the world is a great big kindergarten.

Consider:
- Democrats speak over our heads, as if we’re children.
- They pontificate with big words, great flourishes and ponderous concepts — figuring that we just don’t understand anyways.
- They deal with national and world issues by applying simple kindergarten principles (more on this as the series continues.)
- They often expect us to believe the unbelievable (example: the stimulus plan will stimulate the economy.)
- They pretentiously tell us how much our ideas matter, and then figuratively (or is it literally?) scoff at us behind closed doors.
- They hold back achievers and praise poor achievment.
- They teach that the group is more important than the individual.
- They preach that conformity and “getting along” is better than creativity and initiative.

The new liberal playbook — kindergarten principles.

A simple but highly effective way of dealing with the population at large — in fact, a brilliant political strategy.  But why would the average American fall for this arrogant, patronizing treatment?  Why would he allow himself to become a willing prey for such shameless, condescending political tactics?

I think it’s an unintended consequence of our technological progress.  21st century America is a nation where we don’t have to wait for anything.  New and exciting innovations continue to make things easier, more accessible, more convenient.  Everything is instant — movies, music, food, news, internet, communication, GPS.  We want everything, we want it right now — and there’s very little left that we can’t have in a matter of seconds.  We’ve constructed an entire culture of superficiality and instant gratification.  As a result, Americans now have the attention span of kindergarteners.  We can’t focus on anything for more than a few minutes at a time.

And in the process, we’ve made ourselves vulnerable to — and virtually defenseless against — the power of suggestion.

Call it cultural ADD.  We’ve become a people who get their information in quick little snippets.  Everything is fed to us in clever sound bytes or quick 8-minute segments between commercials.  In one ear — yeah, yeah, blah, blah, blah – out the other and move on.  More important things to do anyways — American Idol is on, isn’t it?  Don’t bother me with trivial stuff like a presidential election… What’s that?  Obama is like a rock star?  Yeah, baby, count me in!  O-ba-ma!  O-ba-ma!  O-ba-ma!  Politics is totally coooooool…!

Liberals have cleverly figured out that the path to political success (at least in the short term) is to tap the vast ocean of emotional shallowness.  They’ve learned to exploit the absense of engaged thought by fanning the already-existing flames of euphoria, passion, rage and hype.  And they know that they will be the sole political beneficiaries of the short, kindergarten-like attention span of a multitude of voters.

Example A:  Barack Obama was not elected president based on what he has done (that sort of thing is known as experience, and it doesn’t appear he has enough to even consider).  He wasn’t elected for what he can do (he hasn’t done anything up to now, how can we know what he’s capable of?)  He wasn’t even elected because of who he is (unless you count who some people imagine him to be…)

No, our new president was chosen because of how he is — well-spoken, smooth, totally hip and, oh yes — loved, worshipped and adored by Hollywood and the media.  Just the sort of candidate a people with the attention span of kindergarteners would elect.

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Our exploration The Kindergarten Principles has officially begun.
Next:  Kindergarten Principle #1 — Johnny, share your crayons — NOW.

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