The Principled Difference Could Make all the Difference

Guest Post by Eric Peters

I listened to South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s speech yesterday; such a contrast – such a tonic for the intellect – vs. the bloviating, belittling incoherence of the Orange Fail.

She elaborated principles, something the OF seems unable to do, probably because he hasn’t got any. I do not mean that as an insult. I mean it as characteristic of many Americans of the Republican persuasion especially, who do not consider particular things in abstract/conceptual terms; who “go with their gut” and “know what they mean.”

Which leaves their meaning as vaporous as a Scottish mist.

The OF failed for exactly this reason. He was defenseless against the principles of the Left. He could not fight the weaponization of hypochondria for the same reason he was unable to do anything fundamental to end – not “repeal and replace” – Obamacare.

In both cases, he was unable to articulate the principles at issue – and apply them.

In the case of Obamacare, the right of free people to decide for themselves whether to buy a health insurance policy or not – as opposed to being told they must not buy this “plan” or that “plan” . . . that is to say, some politician’s “plan.”

Like the Orang Man’s “plan.”

Instead of defending the right of human beings to freely associate – to decide for themselves whether to open or close their businesses (another principle, that of private property) and to decide for themselves whether to enter those businesses, or to wear a “mask” based on their own estimation of the risk and to be left in peace so long as they caused no actual harm to other people – all of it predicated on the principle of self-ownership and all that flows from it – the OF embraced the opposite principle – that the state owns the individual, who is part of a collective he must defer to.

He must submit to “mandates” hurled by political paladins – for the greater good, regardless of the bad imposed on the individual.

The OF stood mute and gelded for months by the side of the Leftist paladin who stole the presidency months before the (s)election of Joe Biden as the replacement president.

Pope Fauci XVII.

This little man took all the Orange Man’s power without the bother of an election. All he had to do was say – boo! – and the Orange Man said moo! He certainly never said anything principled in opposition to the weaponization of hypochondria and the transformation of the United States into a Sickness State.

Contrast what the Orange Failure said about “the deadly China virus” – and what the Orange Failure didn’t say about government assuming outright dictatorial power, rule by decree – the “mandate” predicated on “emergency powers” that never expire – with what Kristi Noem said:

“COVID didn’t crush the economy, government crushed the economy.”

“South Dakota is the only state in America that never ordered a single business or church to close. We never instituted a shelter in place order. We never mandated that people wear masks. We never even defined what an essential business is, because I don’t believe that governors have the authority to tell you that your business isn’t essential.”

Principles. Clearly stated, forcefully because morally elaborated. The government  – not “the deadly China virus” – took away your freedom of association, your right to decide for yourself whether “the virus” constituted a greater threat to your well-being and the well-being of those you are responsible for caring for than an arrogant government busybody like Pope Fauci.

She was just warming up.

“We have to show people how arbitrary these restrictions are, and the coercion, the force, and the anti-Liberty steps that governments take to enforce them.”

“Our founding fathers established our National Constitution and the people of individual states crafted their own constitutions that place specific limits on the role of government. Those limits are essential to preventing government officials from trampling on people’s rights.”

“The people themselves are primarily responsible for their own health and their wellbeing. They are the ones entrusted with expansive freedoms, the free will to exercise their rights to work, worship and to earn a living. No governor should ever dictate to their people which activities are officially approved or not approved.”

Did you ever hear the Orange Fail speak in such terms – or even speak coherently?

Noem went on to elaborate the principle of personal responsibility – the keystone of personal liberty. The individual has the right to assume responsibility for his life – to take decisions for himself and to enjoy the rewards and assume the risks – because if he does not, then he has no rights at all.

He is livestock.

A sheep.

“It was once said that the Left takes its vision seriously, more seriously than it takes the rights of other people. They want to be our shepherds, but that requires us to be the sheep. Let it be heard loud and clear from us right now, we will not be sheep.”

Where was the OF when that needed to be said? He was standing mute beside the man who said – in effect – be sheep. Be quiet. Do not question. Just do as we say.

While OF said . . . nothing.

Here is what Noem said:

“We are not here to tell you how to live your life, how to treat you like a child or a criminal because you go to church or you defend yourself.“

“Each person, each person deserves the opportunity to build his or her life without some self-important government bureaucrat telling them what they can or what they can’t do.”

This is how serious adults speak – and it is how the Left is beaten. Not by ridiculing Leftist politicians because they’re senescent or hair-plugged or unappealing personally but by challenging their principles rather than acquiescing to them, as the Orange Fail did.

Which is why he failed.

And would, again – whether on purpose or not.

Because you cannot fight an opponent you are unable to disagree with.

Noem has articulated principled disagreement using complete sentences that logically follow, one after the other. She was coherent. She was classy. Most of all, she made sense – in the literal meaning of the term.  An intelligible, reasoned identification of the fundamental issues on the table and a principled elaboration of  why it matters to defend them.

As opposed to bellowing about “our great America” . . . whatever that means.

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