“Democracy? Dem All Crazy.” – Fela Kuti
Yay, we won. Break out the ’92 Cabernet, set up the fondue set. Time to party.
But I’m already late – the party’s over, Rumsfeld resigned, and all that’s left is to wait for the action-packed first hundred hours of the 110th Congress. There’s a six-point plan (http://www.democrats.org/agenda.html) that includes the electorate-pleasing minimum wage hike alongside some a few serious new ideas, things like healthcare for all, renewable energy, and open and honest government. Imagine that, health, energy, open and honest government. It’d almost be like living in a functional, or at least sane, democracy.
Though Foley’s folly has given the open and honest idea new meaning, I’d like to see the Democrats maintain the high road they took during the scandal and pursue corporate profiteers over closeted pedophiles. To be clear, I don’t like pedophiles. But when KBR and Halliburton, Cheney’s old crew, make millions for keeping oil tankers parked and unused in Kuwait, and when Enron crashes, the people responsible for bringing California rolling blackouts taking with them the livelihood of thousands, all I’m saying is that Jeff Skilling deserves what he gets. They should even send his dog to dog jail.
As for Halliburton, Cheney isn’t the only one connected. We didn’t need Jack Abramoff to tell us how big the trough is. The parties are like twin balls of lint – in the same pockets.
And as for Iraq, just because this election was a referendum of sorts does not mean we should expect a major change. Talk today of a six-month phased (fazed?) withdrawal will be met by a lot of resistance, chiefly from the President and his attack dogs. I expect Cheney on the television shortly, followed by another hunting accident. I can only imagine.
There are also two other aspects of reality with which the Democrats must contend. One is the reelection of Senator Joe Lieberman. His victory over Ned Lamont, after losing to him in the Democratic primary and running as an independent, signals that not all Democratic voters are ready to abandon the effort. The other is that the victorious Democrats were, in many cases, closet Republicans. Pro-gun and anti-abortion, I don’t expect them to risk their new constituencies by going along with any withdrawal plan with as short a span as six months.
So I have a hard time imagining open and honest government, and an equally hard time imagining a successful and succinct end to our involvement with Iraq. But I once read a Margaret Atwood novel, a post-apocalyptic type tale of female subjugation, and I can imagine that. Fundamentalism, of the Born Again Christian variety, is taking hold. On the Daily Show, Howard Dean brags about winning one third of their vote, but doesn’t really recognize what impact they’ll have on policy.
Organized and experienced, the Christian Right makes the fundamentally voters believe in fundamentally crazy ideas. The current standard-bearers of the movement – Pat Robertson types, the President, the newest Democrats – apply their religion to government in ways that literally defy rationality. But if they’re talking to God they’re not talking to me. And they have no business talking about laws.
Mishuggah.
But I’m already late – the party’s over, Rumsfeld resigned, and all that’s left is to wait for the action-packed first hundred hours of the 110th Congress. There’s a six-point plan (http://www.democrats.org/agenda.html) that includes the electorate-pleasing minimum wage hike alongside some a few serious new ideas, things like healthcare for all, renewable energy, and open and honest government. Imagine that, health, energy, open and honest government. It’d almost be like living in a functional, or at least sane, democracy.
Though Foley’s folly has given the open and honest idea new meaning, I’d like to see the Democrats maintain the high road they took during the scandal and pursue corporate profiteers over closeted pedophiles. To be clear, I don’t like pedophiles. But when KBR and Halliburton, Cheney’s old crew, make millions for keeping oil tankers parked and unused in Kuwait, and when Enron crashes, the people responsible for bringing California rolling blackouts taking with them the livelihood of thousands, all I’m saying is that Jeff Skilling deserves what he gets. They should even send his dog to dog jail.
As for Halliburton, Cheney isn’t the only one connected. We didn’t need Jack Abramoff to tell us how big the trough is. The parties are like twin balls of lint – in the same pockets.
And as for Iraq, just because this election was a referendum of sorts does not mean we should expect a major change. Talk today of a six-month phased (fazed?) withdrawal will be met by a lot of resistance, chiefly from the President and his attack dogs. I expect Cheney on the television shortly, followed by another hunting accident. I can only imagine.
There are also two other aspects of reality with which the Democrats must contend. One is the reelection of Senator Joe Lieberman. His victory over Ned Lamont, after losing to him in the Democratic primary and running as an independent, signals that not all Democratic voters are ready to abandon the effort. The other is that the victorious Democrats were, in many cases, closet Republicans. Pro-gun and anti-abortion, I don’t expect them to risk their new constituencies by going along with any withdrawal plan with as short a span as six months.
So I have a hard time imagining open and honest government, and an equally hard time imagining a successful and succinct end to our involvement with Iraq. But I once read a Margaret Atwood novel, a post-apocalyptic type tale of female subjugation, and I can imagine that. Fundamentalism, of the Born Again Christian variety, is taking hold. On the Daily Show, Howard Dean brags about winning one third of their vote, but doesn’t really recognize what impact they’ll have on policy.
Organized and experienced, the Christian Right makes the fundamentally voters believe in fundamentally crazy ideas. The current standard-bearers of the movement – Pat Robertson types, the President, the newest Democrats – apply their religion to government in ways that literally defy rationality. But if they’re talking to God they’re not talking to me. And they have no business talking about laws.
Mishuggah.
posted by base at 6:08 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home