When it comes to politics and most of everything else, we are regressing

In the old days, it was customary to ask a man of prominence to run for office.  It was not considered seemly for someone to seek the office openly nor directly.  If memory serves, it was William Jennings Bryan who started to frankly and openly run for President.  The lower offices probably followed suit.

Sam Houston was being talked about as a possible candidate in 1860.  It was his view that he had to be asked, if memory serves.

Now, what does this all mean?  It means that demagogues and those of lower moral character are running for office.  Better men are not.  At least, that is my theory.

People of lower character will not honestly govern.  That is why the Republic is in such danger as it is now.  The Republic is in more danger now than it was in the days of the Civil War.  Even if the South won, there would have been two republics instead of one.  Now there could be neither.

When a man runs for office frankly and directly, he demeans the office.  He elevates himself above the office.  In a Republic that governs free men, this cannot endure.  One or the other must go.

If we insist upon electing self-seeking men to office, we will lose the Republic.

I suspect this is why everything seems to be falling apart.

If I am right, then I am one of the very few who seem to think so.

Update a short time later:

Governance should be considered a duty, not an honor.  It is not an honor to be drafted into the military in order to fight a war that may be necessary for the survival of a nation.  It is a duty to serve.  If it is an honor, then it is a travesty against a free republic.  We should not elevate anybody above the rest.  This invites tyranny.  Governance should be like taking out the trash--- a dirty job that somebody has to do.