Like most of America, we assumed that Gary Hart of “Monkey Business” fame had fallen of the face of the earth. But the Huffington Post now lists Hart as a “Scholar in Residence.” Writing as only a Scholar in Residence can, Hart confronts Middle Class America.
“There is nothing wrong with high ambitions, expectations, and dreams. Americans lead the world in all of these, and for much of our history with good reason. But almost nothing in this world is guaranteed, including our superiority and inevitable success. Nations and empires rise and fall. Leaders come and go. Sometimes we’re up, and sometimes we are down. History is a sobering teacher. About the only thing that is inevitable is human folly.”
This seems to be a very thinly veiled attack on the concept of American exceptionalism and nothing said elsewhere in the article dispels that theory. In fact, it gets worse.
“Are our dreams permanently shattered?” asks the frisky former Senator. “Are we in a sharp decline? Is our hour over? No, I don’t think so. A certain kind of way of life may be coming to an end, one marked by excessive consumption, waste, and inefficiency. And if you have defined your life or your nation’s life by those standards, it does look gloomy. But what really is wrong with smaller cars and more efficient homes and deferred gratification and saving for a rainy day?”
This from a man who spent a considerable amount of time cruising around on luxury yachts while balancing a blonde on one knee and a beer on the other.
In answer to the former Senator’s questions, we say there’s nothing wrong with driving a small car or having an energy efficient home or even with saving for a rainy day. What Middle America doesn’t like, Mr. Hart, is leftist elitists proposing a somewhat less satisfying lifestyle for “the other guy” while they continue to live a life of luxury and excess.
Unless, that is, Mr. Hart now gets his kicks with smaller boats and smaller blonds.
Source: Huffington Post
