A friend of mine sent me (and dozens of others) this YouTube link of Tim Hawkins singing a parody of "The Candy Man Can" called "The Government Can". Not much has to be changed because, of course, the Candy Man very likely is a parody of big, friendly government.
What I see in this parody as well as the various Tea Party manifestations around the country is a substantial disconnect. Us versus Them. Powerless versus Powerful. Mind you, this is nothing new. But I sense a growing belief that we can somehow change the system so that this won't happen again. And part of that fantasy is realizable. The Powerless can become Powerful but only at the expense of the incumbent Powerful. The newly Powerless will then complain of the Powerful misusing their power to achieve their ends rather than what had previously been decided.
Is there an answer? I don't believe so. I prefer negotiations and dialog between the Powerless and the Powerful but others prefer boycotts and filibusters and strikes by the Powerless and riding roughshod over the Powerless by the Powerful while they can. And now that the Supreme Court has overturned state gun control authority, that word "Powerful" could have life or death consequences.
There are several troubling aspects of the current "powerful." Not the least is the revelation of Russian spying networks that have developed right under our noses. We are so naive when it comes to understanding "Eastern" regimes. I am troubled by revelations coming out of the Blago trial in Chicago. And the real threat of a "double dip" bothers me. How does a "powerless" citizen deal with the "powerful" government which has so many problems?
ReplyDeleteI believe there are several troubling aspects of the former "powerful" as well. It seems to me that the adage "power corrupts" continues to be true no matter who has the power. We will probably never know the extent of the corruption involved with Haliburton and Blackwater.
ReplyDeleteMy point exactly. Are we nearing the point elucidated in the Declaration? ". . .
ReplyDeleteGovernments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government. . ." The whole paragraph II explains a basic concept called "The right of revolution."