Is it good to be patriotic?
The late, great English writer and moralist Samuel Johnson infamously declared patriotism “the last refuge of scoundrels.” Today, particularly in the United States, most people have no idea who Johnson was, and repeat his words far out of context.
“A patriot is he whose publick conduct is regulated by one single motive, the love of his country; who, as an agent in parliament, has, for himself, neither hope nor fear, neither kindness nor resentment, but refers every thing to the common interest,” Johnson said in 1774’s The Patriot, his most noted political address.
This definition of patriotism holds true today. Replace Parliament with Congress, state legislatures, or a city council somewhere, and his words are good to go insofar as American society is concerned.
Beware, though, that patriotism can easily become ‘patriotism’.
“Let us take a patriot, where we can meet him; and, that we may not flatter ourselves by false appearances, distinguish those marks which are certain, from those which may deceive; for a man may have the external appearance of a patriot, without the constituent qualities; as false coins have often lustre, though they want weight,” Johnson mentioned.
He went on to speak of aspiring politicians who “rave and rail, and inquire and accuse, neither suspect nor fear, nor care for the publick; but hope to force their way to riches, by virulence and invective, and are vehement and clamorous, only that they may be sooner hired to be silent.
“A man sometimes starts up a patriot, only by disseminating discontent, and propagating reports of secret influence, of dangerous counsels, of violated rights, and encroaching usurpation.”
Throughout her campaign, with heightened emphasis over the last several weeks, Hillary Clinton has run on true-blue 125 percent all-American patriotism. She claims that our country is in a grand state, despite opinion polling’s revelation that most of her fellow citizens disagree.
Clinton portrays Donald Trump as a boogeyman -- “disseminating discontent” -- who is the pawn of Vladimir Putin and white bigots -- “propagating reports of secret influence” -- while taking advice from crackpots and shady characters -- “dangerous counsels” -- and at the same time planning to make life hell for religious and ancestral minorities -- “violated rights” -- but not without forgetting to act in the most dictatorial manner possible -- “encroaching usurpation”.
Clinton and her acolytes have spent months and millions of dollars spreading these notions. Trump’s rebuttals are generally ignored and, when given attention, their substance is misinterpreted. Clinton’s narrative stands the sole consideration: “I am a real American, defending real America! USA! UUSSAA!! UUUSSSAAA!!!”
Just how much does she care about American interests, though?
Clinton backed the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the mother of all free trade deals, with gusto until it became clear that public sentiment was strongly against her. The TPP would establish an international tribunal capable of overriding American law, offer new incentives for offshoring employment, and drive down domestic wages.
As the Democratic National Convention unfolded, Clinton loyalist, sketchy fundraiser, and part-time Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe announced that should Hillary get elected, she can be counted on to support TPP.
Clinton supports drastically increased immigration levels; especially from Middle Eastern countries with soaring Islamist populations. Under the guise of ‘refugee resettlement’, she wishes to flood the fruited plains with men and women who might prove how much they love America by destroying it.
Clinton also favors increased taxation -- an indignity certain to drive commerce and high earners out of America -- along with labyrinthine regulations that make growing small businesses into larger ones prohibitive.
This says nothing of Clinton’s character. Look up her ‘public service’ foundation to see how ‘nonprofit’ entities are used for little else than influence peddling at taxpayer expense -- as Johnson put it, forcing a “way to riches”.
Like the Clinton Global Initiative’s promotion of ‘human rights’, Hillary’s campaign of ‘patriotism’ is merely a front for her power trip. It makes dollars and cents for her to tell you sweet lies. It makes no sense for you to believe them.
Indeed, Clinton’s patriotic jargon is “the last refuge of scoundrels.”
For your own sake, do not go there.
Joseph Cotto is a historical and social journalist, and writes about politics, economics and social issues. Email him at joseph.f.cotto@gmail.com