NY Times 12.14.2009 Disaster and Denial, Paul Krugman

Response, Dr. Alan Phillips

Dr. Krugman,

You are right as was Santanyana, those who fail to learn from the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them. I posit that the basic problem exemplified in the Republicans and Democrats cited in your article is one of insensitivity due to loss of ethics and grassroots compassion. When one feasts at the table of privilege it is easy to set aside courage and a conviction as to what is right.

All members of Congress, whatever party would do well to review these paraphrased remarks of young John Kennedy, from his Independence Day address in 1946 when he was a candidate for the Massachusetts, 11th Congressional District, he understood what they do not, right verses wrong.

WE STAND TODAY IN THE SHADOW OF HISTORY, IN THE VERY CRADLE OF LIBERTY,

OUR GOVERNMENT WAS FOUNDED ON THE ESSENTIAL RELIGIOUS ELEMENT OF INTEGRITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL,

AND THE IDEALISTIC ELEMENT, A FIXED REGARD FOR PRINCIPLE--THE CONVICTION THAT OUR EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY OF THE LORD--THAT RIGHT IS RIGHT AND WRONG IS WRONG-THIS IDEALISM LED TO THE CIVIL WAR, WORLD WAR ONE AND TWO, AND THE UTLIMATE FULFILLMENT OF THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION,

REMEBERING,THE PATRIOTIC ELEMENT, LOVE OF COUNTRY AND WHEREVER FREEDOM HAS BEEN IN DANGER, AMERICANS WITH A DEEP SENSE OF PATIOTISM HAVE BEEN WILLING TO STAND AT ARMAGEDDON AND STRIKE A BLOW FOR LIBERTY AND THE LORD,

MINDFUL OF THE INDIVIDUALISTIC ELEMENT-THE RIGHT OF THE INDIVIDUAL AGAINST THE STATE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF OUR MOST CHERISHED POLITICAL PRINCIPLES, THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION HAS SET DOWN FOR ALL MEN TO SEE THE ESSENTIALLY CHRISTIAN AND AMERICAN PRINCIPLE THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN RIGHTS HELD BY EVERY MAN WHICH NO GOVERNMENT AND NO MAJORITY, HOWEVER POWERFUL CAN DENY,

CONCEIVED IN GRECIAN THOUGHT, STRENGHTENED BY JUDEO CHRISTIAN MORALITY, AND STAMPED INDELIBLY INTO AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY, IS THE RIGHT OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO DISAGREE WITH THE STATE--THIS IS THE KEYSTONE OF OUR CONSTITUTION,

In summary we need these types of men and women to emerge politically upon the scene once again. Imaging and public relations are not a substitute for a resolute commitment by individuals, who would serve, to the principle of integrity, doing what is right regardless of perks and favors..

In the end, in view of day after day of disaster and denial, Americans need to apply, in electing representatives, along with experience the fundamental attribute which John Kennedy identified in 1946. We need representatives who know the difference between right and wrong and are willing to apply that principle in voting. Then and only then will we both be able to write many new examples of profiles in courage. Thanks Paul for a great article which I hope many in Congress will read and apply to their own lives.

Dr. Alan G. Phillips
Bloomington, IL