The Great Debate of Echoes

 This post, part of Seeing Golden Glimmerings Of Forever, includes AI-assisted research, but all insights and conclusions are my own. © Seeing Golden Glimmerings Of Forever, [2025]. All rights reserved

Skit Draft: Cast: Democrats, Republicans, Liberals, and Conservatives. Plot: Each is arguing the same things, but from different perspectives. Example: Conservative saying they believe in private property, limited Government, and a Financially sound economy, and that the Liberal Media and Liberals are against everything that America stands for. More juxtaposed arguments laden with logical fallacies ensue, until a noise is only heard. Then enters the Classical Liberal, classically elucidating how America was founded by Liberals, for only a Liberal would resist the King of England. Romans 13 ensuring Conservative alligience to the Crowns Church of England. The John Locke Enters, giving a speech on how the enlightenment movement as a whole, was a Liberal idea from the beginning. 

 Title: "The Great Debate of Echoes"

Setting: A roundtable discussion, featuring the loud and passionate voices of Democrats, Republicans, Liberals, and Conservatives. Each is convinced of their own righteousness, talking over each other, missing the irony that they are all essentially saying the same things, only from different perspectives.

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Scene 1: The Argument Begins

(The stage is set with a bright "Breaking News" banner. Four figures—Democrat, Republican, Liberal, and Conservative—sit around a table, each wearing exaggerated expressions of conviction and frustration.)

Conservative: I believe in private property, limited government, and a financially sound economy. The liberal media and these so-called "progressives" are against everything America stands for!

Liberal: Oh, please! The conservative elite have rigged the system for the wealthy, making it impossible for the working class to succeed. We need fair wages, regulated capitalism, and justice for all!

Republican: The Democrats want big government to control every aspect of our lives! We need freedom, lower taxes, and traditional values!

Democrat: Oh, so you're fine with corporate welfare, endless wars, and lobbyists running Washington?! We want government intervention where it protects people, not corporations!

(The arguments spiral into an overlapping cacophony. No one is listening, everyone is shouting.)

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Scene 2: The Sound of Nonsense

(The shouting gets louder and louder until it reaches an incomprehensible noise. Suddenly, a piercing BEEP drowns out all voices. Everyone stops, confused.)

(Enter the Classical Liberal, wearing 18th-century attire, adjusting their cravat.)

Classical Liberal: My dear fellows! You are all fools, lost in your own reflections!

(Everyone stops, stunned. Classical Liberal steps forward, hands behind their back, speaking with poise.)

Classical Liberal: America was founded by Liberals. Do you not recall? Who but a Liberal would dare resist the King of England? A Conservative would kneel, citing Romans 13 as proof that they must obey authority, that King George’s rule was ordained!

(Conservative crosses their arms, grumbling, but cannot refute the point.)

Classical Liberal: The spirit of 1776 was rebellion against centralized power—a rejection of monarchy and aristocracy! Today, you all claim to uphold the principles of liberty, yet fail to see your shared foundation. You are arguing over the same principles, merely dressed in different words!

(The four figures exchange confused glances. The noise of their argument still lingers faintly in the background.)

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Scene 3: The Enlightenment Awakening

(Enter John Locke, grand and wise, stepping onto the stage. He clears his throat, commanding attention.)

John Locke: I see you have forgotten your intellectual roots. The Enlightenment movement—the very foundation of your beloved Republic—was a Liberal movement! I wrote of natural rights, of life, liberty, and property, principles that shaped your Declaration of Independence!

(He gestures dramatically, as if holding a parchment.)

John Locke: If you call yourself a Conservative, yet believe in individual liberty, you are indebted to Liberal philosophy! If you are a Liberal but detest free markets, you have abandoned your intellectual ancestors!

(The four figures look at each other, gears turning in their heads.)

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Scene 4: The Silence of Recognition

(A long pause. The room is quiet. The noise, once deafening, has vanished.)

Democrat: Wait… so we’re all just… arguing different versions of the same thing?

Republican: That… can’t be right. That means I’d have to admit I agree with… them.

Liberal: If liberty was a liberal idea, but also a conservative ideal, then…

Conservative: (Grumbling) …Then we’ve all been manipulated into thinking we’re enemies when we’re not.

(A new silence falls. The figures glance at each other, realization dawning. They all begin to open their mouths, as if to start arguing again—then hesitate.)

John Locke: (Smirks) Now you’re beginning to understand…

Classical Liberal: Indeed. But tell me, will you learn from this moment? Or return to your noise?

(The lights fade as the figures sit in thoughtful silence, for the first time in the discussion.)

[END]