I
have become critical, cynical and apolitical after a lifetime of
witnessing the costly machinations public office wannabes perform in
their pursuit of an office. It has been said that, in America, anyone
can become president. The missing ingredient
in that Pollyanna aphorism is that wealth - personal, family, or
acquired - is necessary. We have become instead of a Democracy (actually
a Democratic Republic), an Oligarchy.
The Oligarchs treat us as their minions instead of as their employers. We’ve become little more than feudal serfs gifted with the illusion that voting will allow us to have some influence over how they do things. Hogwash!
The verbal sparring between Democrats and Republicans or Liberals and Conservatives serves only to dilute whatever wise thinking might otherwise be brought to an issue, any issue. The fervent use of labels as epithets seems to confirm Emerson’s philosophy that, “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do.” Labels obviate the need for thinking.
Intelligence and statesmanship seem no longer prerequisites for viability as a candidate for President of the United States. I’ve grown weary and disgusted at having to choose the lesser of evils rather than for the one who is eminently qualified.
Alfred E. Neuman (What, Me Worry?) seems of like mind. Perhaps I shall write him in.
"How come we choose from just two people for President, and fifty for Miss America?"
— Alfred E. Neuman, MAD magazine mascot
The Oligarchs treat us as their minions instead of as their employers. We’ve become little more than feudal serfs gifted with the illusion that voting will allow us to have some influence over how they do things. Hogwash!
The verbal sparring between Democrats and Republicans or Liberals and Conservatives serves only to dilute whatever wise thinking might otherwise be brought to an issue, any issue. The fervent use of labels as epithets seems to confirm Emerson’s philosophy that, “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do.” Labels obviate the need for thinking.
Intelligence and statesmanship seem no longer prerequisites for viability as a candidate for President of the United States. I’ve grown weary and disgusted at having to choose the lesser of evils rather than for the one who is eminently qualified.
Alfred E. Neuman (What, Me Worry?) seems of like mind. Perhaps I shall write him in.
"How come we choose from just two people for President, and fifty for Miss America?"
— Alfred E. Neuman, MAD magazine mascot
No comments:
Post a Comment