In a previous post I outlined some of the insights in the stunning book Nixonland by Rick Perlstein. In it, Perlstein deftly chronicles the unraveling of the American political center and the building and hardening of America into two mutually exclusive, enthusiastic, groups who now wage a (we must assume never ending) war for power and control of the future of our country. Both of these groups have left off arguing with each other (they just yell) and have left off seeking to persuade the center—except for the two months preceding an election. In Nixonland, politicians are successful not because of wisdom, and honesty. They do not even traffic in those areas. They are brilliant if they are cunning and can craft 15 second sound bites that divide the country into 50% + 1 on their side. During the time chronicled in this must read work (the mid 60s to the early 70s), the spirit of revolution again invaded our country. It is fomenting still on cable news channels as we speak. It keeps leaders from doing what they should (like dealing with long term debt issues in our country) and keeps them focused on using “whatever means necessary” to win the next political battle and gain control if only for a season to work to bring in their kingdom. This is true of both the left and the right.

If we are to survive as a country, we must plan an escape from Nixonland.

This will be challenging and, I must admit, on the surface of things I see only a faint reason to be hopeful that this escape could happen. (I really worry that the forces of deep division, selfishness, and the lust for power in our country will pose frightening challenges for our future.)

If we are to escape, this escape begins with a recommitment to classical Christian education or sometime like it. Here is why:

Nixonland is built on continual sins against truth. These sins are deft misuses of some of the most brilliant tools that God has given us—logic and rhetoric. We are mixing up convincing sounding arguments that move the passions and obscure the truth. This has always happened. Today, however, as a result of our schools ceasing to teach logic and rhetoric (i.e., giving up a classical liberal arts education) most people are duped by slick sounding language. (We have ceased being free men and women and we are now told that we are free even though we don’t have the tools that it would take to be free.) If we would return to classical education—at least for a significant number of our children—there would be more accountability for telling political lies.

Also, classical education connects us to the past and helps us to put issues into some sort of priority list. Today, politicians typically bang the gong in “whatever way necessary” to drum up support, humiliate a rival for power, or, most often, raise money. Nixon was a savant in this arena. He was the “law and order” president approving criminal break ins to get the scoop on his rivals because he was convinced that they were planning to humiliate him. Classical education with its emphasis on the great books frees us from the tyranny of the urgent present and the shouts of the 24 hour news cycle.

Finally, the skills taught in and the content of a classical education helps people see the shallowness of the great technological catalyst for political lying which is the television. I am not against TV. It is good, but it is only good for one thing—entertainment. It enables political mischief because (like text messaging) there is never time to tell the whole truth. It was TV used thoughtlessly as a political tool that led us into Nixonland. Nixon lost the first presidential TV debate to good looking, articulate, witty JFK. By losing this debate (mainly because he did not understand the medium where his five o’clock shadow had more to do with truth than his arguments), he probably lost the presidency. Nixon learned his lesson. He obsessed over TV, hiring the prodigy Roger Ailes as a 25 year old to run his image (Ailes now runs Fox News). He scripted (or tried to script) everything. He won the presidency and won re-election. Lying on TV is too easy. By amplifying someone’s ethos over a short period of time, or by making one mistake something that can be replayed an infinite number of time, it makes politics inhuman and keeps us from making good decisions.

But, one mights say, “Can’t all of this be done by simply having a classical education? Does the educational reform need to also be Christian?” These are excellent questions. So far, all that I am suggesting could be done at a classical school that is not Christian. An escape from Nixonland, however, cannot happen without a return to Christ and to the Christian ideas that built this nation.

First, we need repentance and forgiveness. This seems like an easy thing. Can’t we all just get along. In truth, we cannot. Only in Christ, in His blood, can wrongs be washed away.

Second, we need to be reminded that it is the thing that counts—not the sound of the thing. God looks on the heart. Slick words and unjust measures are abominations to Him. Politicians weighing out words that they do not believe so that they can confuse or convince or co-opt half the people plus one is an outrage to Him. It must become repugnant to us as well.

Third, we need to have a vision for where we are going. Taking the road out of Nixonland is not an answer. We need to be headed somewhere. (This is the main problem with our present educational system right now, I believe, there is no ultimate aim for students outside of their own personal peace and prosperity.) And we need to be headed somewhere as a people and as a community. This can be found outside of Christ. We could become (and are becoming or are) an economic empire where profits and unemployment rates are more important than prophets and righteousness. We could adopt some other religious vision of life—lslam or Hinduism. It is only upon Christ that an ongoing foundation for civilization can be laid because He is the reason for this world. He created it. It reflects Him. The false gods and our idols (like Mammon) crush and disappoint. Jesus dies to save us from our sins and is raised again to found an order that promises the restoration of the world. In the Lord’s Supper, we see a hint of this coming world (that is already here and is growing). In this service, we offer thanks back to God for the world and for the redemption that He has given to us in Christ. As we do this, the very order that was established in the Garden is restored. Man, with thanks, praises His gracious Father. God with joy pours out blessing on His children.

It is in the power of God that we hope. It is in the power of God that we trust. It is His grace and mercy and power that can bring us out of Nixonland.