dis·in·gen·u·ous
[dis-in-jen-yoo-uhs]
adjective
Has anyone else noticed that the rhetoric that is being bandied
about by the candidates does not truly parse the way that it would seem to at
first blush? It is, in my opinion, in their “gaffs” that their true agenda
seems to be most clearly illuminated!
Mitt Romney says that he does not care about the very poor
[because they have a safety net and that if it needs fixing he will fix it].
Personally, based on nothing more than observing the laws that they pass and
the actions that they take, believe this statement. I truly believe that the
Republicans, as a whole, don’t care about the very poor. There is no gain in
their doing so. The poor do not, after all, give campaign contributions.
But more telling, I think, is the reaction to this
statement. None of his opponents have come out and outright disagreed, they
have said things that could be taken as disagreement, they have objected to his
saying it, but they haven’t disagreed!
Mr. Santorum said not that what he said was wrong. He made
some weak comment that if it was true it was a description of a party he wouldn’t
want to be in. Mr. Gingrich responded that he thought that the people who
relied on the safety net would prefer a trampoline to help them reach the upper
1%.
One of the many problems with the rhetoric is that not
everyone can be in the top 1%; it is mathematically impossible. By its very
definition, there must be 99% of any population that fall below the top 1%.
More importantly, the field all talk about their electability and how the goal
is to be elected – to make sure that the current president loses his reelection
bid.
The problem is that the Republicans have been in power for
the last two years and any action they think would make things better, seems to
have been put on hold! It’s all politics! Not that I am saying that I agree
with the other party!
Never!
Being somewhat Jeffersonian in my views, I think that the
political parties are the bane of democracy! Their goal (as is so clearly
reflected in the rhetoric) is to get elected. They want to get in power and stay
in power.
They depend on people NOT being involved in the affairs of
the day. They depend on the populace being compliant and uninformed. How
ironic! The electoral system that we have (with the electoral college actually
electing the president and the populace electing electors who are supposed to
represent their interests in the election) was specifically designed to protect
the country from an uneducated populace and it now more-or-less depends upon
one. How sad and ironic.
But as with Marley’s Ghost, we wear the chains we ourselves
forged. By being uninformed, disinterested, and pliant, we invited the party
system we have. We asked for politicians who lie to us and try to play on our
ignorance and apathy. The only cure for the situation would b for us to
actively take an interest again. Not in the sophistry or the jingoism. Not in
the party system, but in the affairs of public. Become informed! Take an active
role in where your town, county, state, and country are headed.
You are a part of the problem unless you are working for a
solution.
Wherever you are today I hope that you will take interest in
current affairs.
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