three hundred ninety one

 THE ART OF DIVERTING RESPONSIBILITY

People who are brave enough to make decisions are becoming rare but politicians who make brave decisions are almost extinct.  

Polling, focus groups, strategists and media experts massage the message focusing exclusively on the political ramifications and benefits. Sadly this is the natural state of politics today. 

The camera hogs, political hit men and media whores shape every word, facial expression, body language, hair style, fashion choice and mirror tested smiles. They wear glasses to look smart, deliver prepared pompous speeches and have their quiver full of snark filled talking points. If by chance they are put on the spot and asked an actual question they answer with condescending snarky insults, empty word salad fluff, meandering filibuster or simply run away.

Politicians call themselves experts and leaders but very few are actually experts and never actually lead. If they are forced to vote on a controversial piece of legislation their main concern is their own reelection. 

I understand votes take a certain amount of wheeling and dealing and compromise but voting in the interest of their constituents rarely takes precedent. 

The so called representatives of "the people" consider their constituents only at election time. Senators with six year terms focus on the needs of their states in the last year of their terms. The first five years they can play on a national stage ignoring or even hurting their own state. They simply bring money for a federal bridge, building or highway project then name it after themselves and they are good for another six years.

Representatives with two year terms have to be more crafty. They need to rely on money from their party and donors so their votes reflect the interests of these sources of campaign money not the people they represent. 

The rare statesman usually has a short career because they don't play the game. Their ability to survive the sound bite world, avoid the wrath of the media and raising large amounts of money is not the major focus of a statesman. Because a charismatic person can navigate the political gauntlet doesn't make them any more equipped to lead a country, they are simply good at winning and election. In fact in my opinion this detracts from any chance they will make wise or well thought out decisions.

If by chance they do make a decision they are prepared for only two responses. Brag and take a victory lap if it can be twisted and framed as a success or blame the failure on their opponents because of their lack of support, usually money. 

Taking responsibility can be political death because a vote will put them on the spot. We may or may not vote them out at the next election so this one is partially on us. 

Omnibus bills are the latest tactic. Cram a bill full of pork and bad law then cover it all with a caring name and call it a crisis. We have lost all sense of fair play, winning and all cost is becoming the norm. Actual governing has turned into a bullying no holds bared power grab. The gloves and masks are off.

Some have abandoned any sense of honor. They view fair play as weakness, the rule of law as a weapon and free speech a one way street. 

The courts, law enforcement, prosecutors, censorship and propaganda rule the day. The attitude of I know it is wrong but it will take time for the courts to rule on it. Buy the time they do we can blame the courts and our opposition for not caring and overturning established law. 

The educational system, entertainment and media have created an entitled uneducated dependent class. Curiosity about issues and  history are frowned on. Critical independent thinking or having a different opinion can now get you banned, fired and imprisoned. Quoting the Constitution, expressing a religious view or owning a fire arm means you are a bad person or worse.  

Separating people is a well thought out strategy, Mao did it with class warfare we are doing it with race and gender warfare. History may soon repeat itself if it hasn't already. 

I'm not some genius I just see what is right in front of me. It may not be what is being said out loud but with a minimal understanding of human nature and history it is clear as a bell. Once you see it it can't be unseen.

The hunger to hate other people and see bad things happen to them feeds a base human desire. People they disagree with are not viewed as people with bad ideas they are viewed as bad people. 

Public shaming for not parroting the party propaganda has been replaced with political correctness, approved opinions and never questioning government approved science and intellectual authority.

The greatest offense is simply being identified as a perpetrator. This can be determined by class, race, sex or economic status. No matter how many generations have passed, how much progress has been made or how hard a person sacrifices and works, they can not change their perpetrator status. 

On the other hand victim status gives the right to do just about anything to a perpetrator. All hatred, violence, cruelty, shame, abuse, loss of profession, rights, imprisonment, torture and death are justified. We can see this more and more each day. The steady erosion of our basic Constitutional rights, personal responsibility, freedom of speech and free will is alarming. 

Our entertainment media now portrays the perpetrator class as the bad guys. They have southern accents, work blue collar fossil fuel jobs, own firearms, hunt, attend church, display American flags, quote the Constitution and serve in the military.

The one positive is they are saying it out loud and the mask is off. They openly blame others for the hate, lies, violence and bigotry but with any level of common sense anyone can clearly see the hypocrisy. Willful blindness is hard to maintain, it is like keeping a room completely dark in the middle of the day, one tiny spot of light illuminates the room.

Free speech is like that light, a small speck of truth can illuminate a million lies. Beware of those who want to limit speech. 

Now the question is........

It is crunch time, politicians won't save us, violence won't save us and that special charismatic leader won't save us. 

The only thing that can save us is an awake, engaged and informed population. It starts and ends with us. It is just as wrong to divert this responsibility to others as a blowhard politician. Until enough of us pick up this responsibility nothing will change......Wake up!