A viral infection is always more difficult to cure than to prevent.  Once the infection gets into the system, the battle to reverse its ill effects is a long and arduous one.  It can, at times, be terminal.

Thus, prevention is always the preferred course.  Hospitals and public facilities spend much time, money, and effort to keep viral infections from ever gaining a foothold.  But we as Americans ignored the threat.

Our country now has been infected with the Nanny State Virus (NSV).  Four years ago, we were angry over the fiscal turndown.  So we sought to fix things by electing an unproven, slick talking, promise wielding, virus carrying salesman from Chicago.  Yes, we looked for salvation to the political machine of CHICAGO!!!!!

Maybe it was partially guilt over not ever yet having had a black President.  Maybe it was the vision created by the promises heaped upon us by the untried Mr. Obama.  Maybe it was the anger over the fact that Mr. Bush occupied the White House when the fiscal crisis hit.

Regardless, we let our collective guard down and allowed the "virus of socialism" into our house.   The promises were seductive: reduce the deficit; erase the debt; find new prosperity; punish the guilty; raise up the abused; purge the financial scalawags; guarantee the benefits of hard labor without requiring any effort.  It was a sweet song of the socialist siren ---- and every bit as false.

The NSV took hold immediately.  We saw entrepreneurism wane; we saw employment plunge; we saw government payouts surge; we saw the dollar decline; we saw American stature diminished; we saw debt rise.  We saw FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE --- the beginnings of the crumbling of the America that was the envy of the world.

Four years later, many Americans realized the error.  But the NSV had taken a firm hold and held the power to say whatever it deems to be in its own interests.  The NSV will battle hard to strengthen its grip.  Moneys get redirected; giveaways become common place; promises are re-asserted; opponents are vilified.

With a complicit national media, the NSV went unchallenged.  Its "Messenger-in-Chief" flew anywhere he wished on the tax payer's nickel.  He campaigned endlessly on the theme that the good times are just around the corner.  "FORWARD" he cried.  None questioned him.

Then came the election.  It was our chance to begin the cure.  Many who shouted his praises for his "HOPE AND CHANGE" had long ago come to realize that they made a grave error in succumbing to his siren song.  But the power of incumbency is like the virus inside your body.  Once entrenched, it is oh so difficult to expunge.

America made its error in allowing the NSV to come into our world in 2008.  Those who were seduced in 2008 cried out valiantly in 2012 that they would never support such a man again.  But the NSV had done its damage and the will of the majority was insufficient to overcome its grip.

The cure may take a long time - if there is one to be had.  Four years from now we will see where we stand.  We will not be free from the NSV.  But we will have an opportunity to begin the cure.

And still, we can look back to the seduction of 2008.  We bought the "line" and opened ourselves up to the virus.  And now we are infected.   And FREEDOM hangs in the balance.