Goldfish and Clowns

Well, this has taken me far longer to get to than it should have. My bad. Anyway, my take on the political side of Sarah Palin as outlined in Going Rogue, which I finished reading the other day.

One of the common tacks taken by the left in its never-ending effort to dismiss Palin is to completely ignore her political record. Bad mistake. Very, very bad.

First, a look at Palin’s philosophy. As she mentions several times in Going Rogue, Palin is an unabashed admirer of Ronald Reagan. His guiding principles of limited government and encouragement of economic growth through cutting taxes and a corresponding reduction in public spending have been adopted by Palin during both of her stints in elected office, first as mayor of Wasilla and later as governor of Alaska.

There is also more than a trace of the Alaskan spirit of rugged self-reliance coupled with communal responsibility in the face of a brutal environment woven throughout Palin’s political operative. She cannot abide indifference to duty nor inattentiveness to the genuine as opposed to self-inflicted needs of others.

These elements have manifested themselves in Palin’s actions during the times she has been in office. She has no problem trimming deadwood from the public payroll, doing so not out of heartless disconnect to the people let go through such actions but rather a belief that if the individuals have ability they will land on their feet and if not… well, they’re the ones who shoulder the blame for being out of work.

Palin embodies having the courage of ones convictions, going toe to toe with any individual or organization impeding the implementation of her vision. This includes those already in government regardless of party affiliation as well as big business. As governor she was relentless in hammering away at Big Oil to develop resources on which it was sitting, thus depriving not only the country of energy but also Alaskans of the financial benefits to be generated. Palin has zero tolerance for corruption in government, battling it through all available means including when need be stepping away from office in order to conduct her campaign through different channels.

The need for individual and communal effort in order to not only prosper but survive permeates Palin’s view of how citizens should view government. If a need arises that in her opinion is best handled through the private sector, she will actively withhold any form of government program to provide the service. Again this is done not out of a lack of empathy but rather as a natural reflection of Palin’s upbringing. Offering a hand up? Always. But a handout? Never.

It is little wonder Palin has made more than a few political enemies. She is anathema to those who see their role in government, and the role of government itself, as fostering the creation of public dependence on government programs, stifling the private sector as it seeks to hoard all available wealth without regard for its own inability to generate same. Palin believes government exists to serve the people; this along with the people being responsible, as much as lies within their ability, for taking care of themselves. It is not a philosophy designed to garner much support among the self-proclaimed repressed or those seeking power by feeding the lies people tell themselves about their lot in life.

It is a philosophy rooted in not only the Reagan vision of politics, but also an understanding of Scriptural teaching in regard to the nature of man.

Thoughts on the spiritual and personal aspects of Going Rogue tomorrow.

A most excellent take on the book, courtesy of KillTruck.

Finished it a short time ago. Quick impression: illuminating and honest.

Much more later, both here and at the Examiner.