I never thought I'd actually see the day this would come, but it really shouldn't surprise me. The Republican Party - the party of individualism and personal freedom - has crossed over to the dark side. We are headed, if nothing changes, for a very dark period in our history - one where our freedoms will be curtailed, our lives monitored, and our words held against us. We are headed for a totalitarian society, and we might just be helping it along the way.
The recent foray of Congress into a private, family matter was troubling first because of the hypocrisy involved. However, even more troubling is the trip into uncharted territory - government intervention into private lives. Republicans are starting to flex their muscles and attempting to exert their power over individuals and families. I'm not certain where it will end.
The secondary problem is, however, that Democrats will not likely stop it, just change its direction. Democrats have traditionally worked to help working families and those that can't help themselves. This is a noble cause. However, they have used government to do this. This creates a government infrastructure that can be abused when the wrong persons are in power. For instance, the Republicans did not want to create the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats did. When it finally came to pass, however, Republicans decided that they would rather use it to increase their power - no-fly lists and TSA harassment, forced cooperation among law enforcement agencies, fraudulent contracts awarded to friends of congressmen, etc. Much government bureaucracy is created with harmless intent. The problem is what it morphs into over time.
Government can help those in dire need. However, through policy and law, government can create a "dire need" for many more individuals, making them dependent on the government. For instance, tax policy can impoverish a class of individuals. Take any national sales tax policy - this would quintuple my taxes. Likely wouldn't be buying much, if anything, outside of food. This could potentially impoverish me. I might, then, become dependent on the government for other necessities. This gives them power over me. Do I fight the policy? What if the wrong person is in power and decides to deny me assistance based on my dissent? This is where government in our lives goes wrong.
Many programs and departments are set up with one intent, only to have the "intent" of the department changed by Congress. The programs and departments originally slated to help those in need could then end up hurting those same individuals.
The Schiavo case shows where legislation can express the "intent" of Congress. Laws can be changed to feed the desires of the majority. Government can be used to destructive ends. If this goes unchecked, it will spell the end of the republic...and potentially totalitarianism in America.
How will the Democrats respond? Only time will tell, but I'm not confident that the response will be to get government out of our lives when we need it out the most. I know I sound like a Republican here, but government is slowing turning into a weapon, not a shield. It is this scenario that makes me wonder where we'll be in 10 years. Hopefully, the tide will have turned, Americans will have awakened to creeping collectivism and government monitoring, and we'll be back to a point in America where we as individuals have ultimate say in how we conduct our daily lives. However, I don't see it headed that way. I hope I'm wrong...