On the crashing difference between Barbarians and Reformers

There has obviously been a lot of discussion about Crashing the Gates and Barbarians and other warlike references at DKos for quite some time, mostly inspired by the book, of course.  However, we are not the barbarians.  We are not brutal, not bloodthirsty, not intolerant, not using force; we are the antithesis of barbarians - we are the reformers.

I was reading PsiFighter37's diary about the "barbarians" attacking Constantinople and the parallels to the current political situation in the Democratic party when it occurred to me:  

We are not the barbarians.  We are not out to ruthlessly destroy all before us or die trying.  We are not going to put the defenders heads on pikes or rape all the women in the city or steal all of the plunder available.

The barbarians already own the city, are sitting pretty on their plunder pile.  What else can we call the Republicans who regularly plunder their constituents?  When will the loot they extract from America be enough for them to finally be satisfied?  Wouldn't anyone but a barbarian finally stop the damage inflicted on society to keep the golden goose laying eggs?  

When will they ever implement laws that improve society and the lot of all members of it?  

After all, modern barbarians don't have to kill everyone to take all of their stuff.  They control the reigns of government and are sneakier than we ever thought possible.

Genghis Khan learned how to accomplish that - he did kill the political leaders, but encouraged the artisans and craftsmen and other skilled individuals to produce their wares.  Alexander knew that.  He created cities and other societal structures wherever he went.  Other conquerers knew that the most skilled in any society must be preserved in order to maintain its productivity and vitality.  Otherwise, why not just slaughter them all like a barbarian would?  

That is the true difference between barbarians and reformers:  Barbarians are in it for their own benefit, and reformers are out to improve the situation for the whole society.  And the barbarians are the ones who have taken over the city on the hill in America.  We are the ones who have to set it right.  We are the reformers.

We need to take the city of Barbarians back.  But the outcome of our takover will be much different than a barbarian outcome.  We invest in the future.  We want the overall society to succeed, even at the expense of its most affluent and prestigious memebers.

Not to hang them out to dry, or to rape and pillage those remaining after we take over, but to stop the short term thinking.  To stop the live for today attitude.  To stop the pillage mentality.  To stop the no-prisoners attitude.

We will become a nation of laws again, not of personal priveledge and favoritism.  We will not be barbaric.

We are the reformers.  We are crashing the Barbarians' gate.  We will win.  We will make America and therfore the world a better place.

•  Off to bed - sorry I can't be here

  I have a bad case of Asian jet lag and have to go to sleep since I can finally snooze during the night time.  I didn't sleep at all last night, and am exhausted.

  Hopefully the incoherence I feel didn't translate into the diary.

  Tips, comments and flames are welcome.

  by Prof Dave on Mon Aug 07, 2006 at 08:42:09 PM PDT

  •  barbarian attitude, reformer policy

    I agree with your point, but the main reform the Democratic party needs is an infusion of fighting spirit.

    Kind of like Theoden in Lord of the Rings, when he was under the spell of Saruman and Wormtongue.  We need the Democratic party to wake the fuck up and start fighting for itself.

    And the Rohan are definitely barbarians.

    by ferg on Mon Aug 07, 2006 at 08:52:10 PM PDT