Perhaps the reason that Americans are so patient with some of the bullshit that our government does is because we actually believe in the system. After all, we did elect George Bush and his clusterfuck of cronies. Hell, we re-elected them*. But by 2006 we had realized as a nation that perhaps we'd made a mistake, and so we began the process of changing control from one party to another that seemed to be headed in a different direction.
That's Democracy! We vote! Things change! Hooray!
Except that things are not changing. It's been a year and a half since the Democrats took a majority in both houses of Congress (however shaky a majority it may be) and there doesnt seem to be any difference between now and 2005. Despite reams of evidence of corruption and mismanagement, Congress has done little to reign in the White House. While they occassionally say "no" to BushCo, it's less like a chaste statement of denial and more like a coy no-but-they-mean-yes, accompanied by a slight hiking of the skirt as if we were watching some sort of bad political porn show.
So, in 2000, a majority of Americans decided to Republicans in charge of America*. For some of us, it sucked. A lot. And those who opposed the Republicans frequently got screwed, as generally happens to those in the opposition. But we of the opposition also knew that politics is a lot like fashion, and that the crew cut that's stylish this season will give way to the long hair a couple seasons down the road, and then eventually will make its way back to short again, just as the Democrats and Republicans will cycle back and forth.
Except now, that doesnt appear to be happening, at least, not with those who we've elected. It's rather like we went to a barber, with our long hair, and asked for a a bit of a trim to neaten up the ends, and instead had our head shaved!
Would you be pissed? I know I would.
I know that I am. Because we're still getting screwed, and by our own people!
We've got an election coming up in a few months, and I think that maybe all the hoopla about Obama and hope and the end of the Bush Years is distracting people a bit from the failure of Congress to do what they were elected for in 2006. Oh sure, we're mad, but still, we've got the hope of 2008, and the light at the end of the tunnel and all that.
But what happens around December of 2009, when Obama's honeymoon is over, and the new congress, for all practical purposes, is still acting exactly like the old congress? Will we look back to the election, when Republican malfeasance left us little choice but to vote for Democrats? Will we ask to ourselves what the point of the process was? Will we decide that the right to choose is completely meaningless when you only have a choice between two identical options?
When it appears that there will be no change, even when we thought there would be, will that be the time when people get pissed off enough to start demonstrating en masse? Will we then finally look like a country made up of people who actually give a shit about the wonderful gift of democracy that we've been given, who are willing to stand up and fight for it?
And wont it be ironic if it turns out to be the Democrats who make use of all the constitutionally questionable Republican plans for holding large numbers of prisoners? Wont it be "amusing" when, as we crow about the disintigration of the Republican party, nobody notices that the Democratic party filled its shoes without even missing a step, and took advantage of all the lovely power which a Republican president had created for himself?
Bottom Line: Obama is campaigning on "change". He'd better make sure he comes through on that promise, or the American public may decide to take matters into their own hands.
* Yes, yes, it's debatable, but I'm talking conventional wisdom here, okay?
An Additional, later, thought:
Okay, politics is generally a matter of give and take. It works best when one side says, "okay, I'll vote for your thing if you agree to vote for mine". So here's a question: when the Democratic-controlled congress fails to stop the Bush Administration in either their low policy or their high crimes, are they doing so because they've made some sort of deal with the White House? And if so, what exactly are they getting in return, and will it be shared with the Public who elected them in any way (aside from the cost)?
Or are they going along with Bush Co in order to avoid something worse?
5 comments:
Politicians make good money. That's what they're getting, and that's all they care about. It's cushy to be politician, and of the Democrats went against the Republicans, they might actually have to work for a living.
All but 28 Senators voted FOR the FISA/Telco immunity bill today.
I salute the 28 who had the balls to vote their conscience, which also included..gasp...Hillary. but NOT Obama.
For the rest of those smarmy mutha fuckas who voted for the bill I say to them:
How does it feel to dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?
@ Dusty: If the people feel they have no place to turn for change, they will make it themselves. I think our belief that democracy works is the only thing that's kept the lid on this country for the last few generations. Make that belief obviously false, and what do you suppose will be the response? Gentle resignation? Or rock-and-roll?
@ UWL: The problem is not so much the money, but that the money is necessary to get into office. This gives the power to whomever wields the money. As long as we allow money to play such a huge part in an election, then those who give the largest sums of money will be the ones who get the longest audience with the leadership.
Of course, if we remove money from the equation, the power will just shift to whatever else is needed to win, but is in a short or controllable supply.
***
There is, by the way, a high school teacher here in Texas who has come fairly close to beating his Republican incumbent for congressional office (senate, maybe?). He is noteworthy because instead of spending tons o' money, he spends huge amounts of his time actually talking to his potential constituency. I've not only never met my Congress-people, I've never seen an announcement of an occassion when I could meet them.
We agree too much for you not be be linked, so you are.
Peace out.
The problem is that the Democrats are more afraid of the GOP's base than their own.
Until that changes, there will be no change.
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