(The Auburn Reporter) in March of 2007. When I reread it today, I was struck by my unintentional prophecy.
It’s Time To Do Nothing!
by Doug Bursch
I’ve decided to form a new political party. We’ll call ourselves the “do-nothings”. Our goal will be to complain about everything while we do absolutely nothing to change anything. We’ll just wait in the wings for learned, well-intentioned men and women to offer their best solutions to the maladies of our time. Once these individuals have clearly articulated their plans to transform society, we will appear from the shadows and actively campaign against their irresponsible attempts to change things. Whether a new transportation initiative or an overhaul of our educational system, we will actively campaign against any and all proposals for change.
Nay-saying will be the motivating virtue of our “do-nothing” revolution. Our strength will be in our unwavering opposition to everything. We will become rhetoric wordsmiths; carefully parsing the verbiage of change until all plans, propositions, and proposals seem foolish.
You may ask why we would choose to crusade against the dreams of well intentioned visionaries. Why? Because change always costs too much, it’s never the best plan, it’s obviously politically motivated, and who do they think they are anyway. We will rally against change because cynical criticism is the spirit of our age.