The other day, I was reading a post which opined that the Press is failing to hold politicians accountable for things they say, do and don't say, don't do. Their complaint was that neither political party appears to be much different, and now the Press is looking much more like the political parties, and less like an institution determined to keep the politicians “honest.”
As I thought about this concept, I reflected that I no longer trust the traditional Press for my source of political happenings and insight. Rather, I've come to rely on the likes of Glen Beck, Michael Savage, and Mark Levin to get a perspective that, to me, is much more founded in a purist-Constitutional vein. Using this template to evaluate the current political landscape, the gap between what is said by either party and it's 'leaders' and the intent of the Founders is phenomenal.
It is the nature of us, Americans, to assume the most positive, innocent perspective when it comes to the motives of our elected officials. Partially, because we are a bit apathetic, and partially because we don't have the time to assume every politician is a self-serving, ideologue. However, it appears that we've let the inmates run the assylum a bit too long, and if we don't act soon, we'll all be lab rats for the lunatics!
There is an old adage referencing the German citizens' indifference during the Holocaust experience, which we should consider very carefully:
"Pastor Niemoller spoke for thousands and thousands of men like me when he spoke (too modestly of himself) and said that, when the Nazis attacked the Communists, he was a little uneasy, but, after all, he was not a Communist, and so he did nothing; and then they attacked the Socialists, and he was a little uneasier, but, still, he was not a Socialist, and he did nothing; and then the schools, the press, the Jews, and so on, and he was always uneasier, but still he did nothing. And then they attacked the Church, and he was a Churchman, and he did something--but then it was too late."
We have lived in freedom so long, we take it for granted; we will always have it, no matter who is elected, or how they govern, right? Currently, the voting population seems to only vote for a candidate who is slightly different than the incumbent. Unfortunately, the way to balance things is to take a significant step as exemplified by someone like a Ron Paul. However, when some one like him speaks, people think he's a 'fringe' 'nut-job', or a radical. We think “oh, he's just exaggerating to make a point.” So we dismiss him and his message, because it seems to be such a contrast to the incumbent situation. Thus continues the cycle of insanity.
Sadly, minor changes in the wrong direction have been on-going for nearly a century. Making incremental changes in the right direction, now, is too little, too late. We need to make some fairly drastic changes in the other direction, if we are to bring some sanity back into government and politics. Some have suggested a type of revolution.
Is revolution the answer? Well, perhaps not a war, but a revolution of electing real-people who love the Constitution and will serve the Country, not their party or themselves. People who will do what they say, and admit when they were wrong.
We must refuse to be impressed with slick posters, fancy campaign slogans, and guys dressed in the perfect suits. These props have been exploited by Madison Avenue ad campaigns to create a candidate that looks and sounds like the kind of person we want to run our country. But, like Christ accused the Jewish leaders of his time, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness," once they are elected, our officials take off the mask and show their ego, attitude, arrogance, and narcissism.
We need to elect more of our next-door-neighbors. People who are normal; who don't NEED to be the class president. Those who don't feel they always know what is good for everyone, and will admit it. Someone who believes we have plenty of laws; that new laws should be enacted sparingly. Perhaps they even support a balanced-budget for laws--for every new law passed, ten old laws should be repealed! People who don't have egos that need to be babied, pampered, and cajoled all of the time.
Sound crazy? If this is crazy, could it be we need a lot more crazy?
11 years ago
