With apologies to Christopher Tolkien (and many heart-felt thanks to his father, J. R. R. Tolkien), I followed my train of thought from my email to Hannity a little further.
The Lord of the Rings was not written as an allegory; Tolkien did not force a single interpretation on his readers. But its story can be seen as a metaphor for many situations. I believe we are living through one such situation.
Half a century ago, certain politicians forged the Federal Government into the One Ring. Continuing to this day, our elected officials continue to concentrate more and more power in this Ring and its strength is now vast. And now there are great contests to obtain and wield this power.
Those on the political Left have long taken a great interest in this Ring; it was they who first forged it among the ashes of the Great Depression (I'm well aware that this is a simplification, however many of the powers that the Federal Government now wields were consolidated and expanded under the Roosevelt administration with the New Deal). Later more power was added to the Ring with the "Great Society" so that Johnson could wage an endless "War on Poverty."
Sauron and his minions on the Left continue to demand more and more of our productivity through taxes to enthrall larger and larger segments of the population under the Ring's sway. They promise hand outs, not unlike the Seven rings given to the Dwarves and the Nine rings given to Men. Of course the result is the same: a part of the One Ring's power to wield over their fellow man in exchange for lifelong (and longer) servitude.
Eventually, those on the political Right caught on and began to resist. Ronald Regan came to power amidst great hope of liberty but even under his administration entitlement spending grew, and with it the power of the Ring. In the 1990's, when it seemed all hope was lost (as government controlled health care loomed) the Contract With America was forged and hope shone anew.
But hope soon faded. Rather than destroy the Ring, the Republican Congress slowly fell under its spell. They dressed it up with phrases like "Compassionate Conservatism," but it meant more spending and less liberty. Some (derisively referred to as RINOs) took the path of Saruman and are often indistinguishable from Sauron's other minions.
And so we stand today, in 2007. 2008 will see the election of a new president, new Representatives and Senators. The Ring is more powerful today than ever before, and it sits as a prize.
The Ring has not fallen, by happy chance, to a humble Hobbit. It is there for the taking. But this Ring, as with Tolkien's, should not be used. It should be destroyed.
We have Dr. James Dobson taking the role of Denethor, advising us to take hold of the Ring and wield it as a weapon for our devices. There are many who, as Boromir, would heed that advice. They would use the Ring to smite Sauron and his minions and as the master of the Ring bring goodness and wholesomeness to our nation.
Have they not seen what this Ring does to those who wield it? It is not a weapon that brings Liberty, but serfdom. By using the Ring, they would add yet more power to the Federal Government. Certainly it would be the power to do what THEY want, but what happens when they no longer control the Ring?
Many roles in this metaphor are not yet revealed. Who has the wisdom to guard us on the journey? Who will cut wasteful spending, and stand to oppose further entitlement expansion? Who will secure the borders of our nation? Who is Gandalf?
Who has the strength, wisdom, and authority to lead us and to take the throne? Who can challenge Sauron, in secret to wrench the Palantir from his control and openly in battle? Who is Aragorn?
Most importantly, who will take the Ring to Mordor? Who will dismantle the entitlement programs that have grown like ivy? Who is Frodo?
In the end, the Ring
must be destroyed. The Federal Government has grown far too large. The programs that promised to lift the poor from their poverty have failed, and now they steal our productivity and our prosperity.
Those, like Dr. Dobson, who would throw their influence behind a third-party candidate who would wield the Ring for their purposes would divide what remaining strength the Right has. In the end, they will yield the Ring to Sauron.
This country cannot afford four years of any of the Democratic candidates, much less eight years. At this moment in history we need a leader who is committed to the destruction of the Ring, not one who promises to wield it for good.
Third-party candidates have a critical role to play in this: they must guard the path. Congressional Republicans are deserving of shame for their role in out-of-control spending and entitlement expansion. They rob us of our Liberty and our prosperity. They have betrayed us to the Ring, and usurped our Power.
The American People want to live in peace. We do not want our paychecks, estates, and inheritance plundered by the Federal Government. We want our Liberty back.
Much like the Council of Elrond, the Republican Party has long been a coalition party. There are many competing interests, but many long thought there was a common bond to reduce the size of the Federal Government. When we chose our Aragorn, we must preserve that coalition. But those in Congress who have betrayed our common bond must be dealt with. Those Representatives and Senators who will stand for fiscal restraint, limited government, and defending our nation must be supported. Those who stand in the way of these principles must be thrust aside.
This means no more earmarked spending. No more entitlements. And no more Federal control over State and local matters. Who can answer this call?
"I will take the Ring to Mordor... though I do not know the way."
