Power. The word itself makes some
people’s mouth water like Pavlov’s dog waiting on a morsel of meat. El
Jefe. Numero Uno. Power allows a person to make the biggest decision and
reap the largest speaking fees. The Big Cheese. Power allows the person to answer to no one, to cover up
mistakes and misdeeds without remorse, to accept overseas trips, money for
services rendered or expected, and promises for future security in case the
unthinkable happens. And finally, power allows the person to assuage any semblance
of remaining conscious by feigning humility as a public servant. That’s
correct. I’m referring to our elected federal politicians. To use the terms “public
servant” and “politician” in the same breath should be akin to the public
breaking of wind.
Just
so all of you understand, I am referring to both Democrats and Republicans. I
believe there has come to pass a sort of unwritten yet unholy alliance between these
two assumed adversaries. It has not been planned and probably was never
actually thought out, since I give neither party member the capability for
long-term thought processes. It just kind of happened, and to them, it seems to
work. And they keep the maximum amount of power that is available to them.
As
an example of this fortunate circumstance, over the last year or two, there
have been a number of black conservative speakers who have used the phrase,
“still living on the plantation” when talking about the unswerving loyalty of
Black Americans to the Democrat Party. It started with LBJ, continues today,
and follows the tried and true formula of the Democrats promising Black
Americans that their lives are bad due to Republicans, and that Democrats are
the only ones who can and will help them. The Black Americans respond by voting
overwhelmingly for democrats and things go back to normal. In two or four years
they repeat the process. (Republicans read this synopsis and nod their heads in sad, but total agreement.) Democrat power is assured.
I
believe the “plantation theory” also applies to conservatives, except we live
on the Republican plantation. No matter how many seats in Congress the
Republicans win, no matter the size of the Senate Republican majority, the
Republicans still can’t seem to find a way to implement conservative laws and
repeal the liberal ones. For two sessions, Speaker Boehner can’t seem to
overrun the House Democrats. As soon as the Senate was delivered into Republican
hands, Senator McConnell has proved both reluctant and outwitted in his
dealings with the President and with Senator Reid. Before taking the gavel in the Senate, McConnell caved and
said there would be no funding issues for leverage, the only means at
Republican disposals. The defunding or even fighting the complete
implementation of Obamacare appears to be off the table. As a matter of fact,
the only time the Republicans get their hackles up is when reelection rolls
around, and then it’s a no holds barred fistfight with the challenger over the
office.
I
believe the Republicans have become content being in opposition and fighting
for conservative programs. They just don’t appear to care about winning. The
answer is always more money. More money to fight Obama, more money to ensure
the Republican majority is increased, more money to keep the right people in
Washington, which is a code-word for not electing some fanatic that might rock
the boat and erode their personal power. As long as conservatives allow their
money to repeat the same failures, our plantation is in effect and yet the
gates are wide open.
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