| | |  Editorials | Opinions 
Sick of Politics? Get in Line
 Doug Thompson - Capitol Hill Blue
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June 22, 2010
One of our writers decided last week to take a break from writing about politics. He said he’s sick of the whole damn mess.
Easy to understand why. The state of the nation, governed by the state of the sick political system that controls it, is enough to make anyone throw up their hands and cry uncle.
Politics, at its best, is a dirty, rotten business and our political system today is far from its best. As voters, we become accustomed to disappointment, disillusionment and disenfranchisement. We expect to be disappointed and, even then, are disappointed when our expectations are met.
In 2008, many voters turned to Barack Obama as a bright hope for the future, a smooth-talking candidate who promised a break from the business as usual, money-talks, lobbyists rule form of government that dominated Washington.
He talked real good and rolled into office on a wave of hope and high expectations but the wave crashed into the rocks of political reality and the high expectations have vanished into a fog of broken promises, crushed hopes and unmet goals.
In reality, voters pinned their hopes to an inexperienced, one-term Senator from one of the most corrupt political organizations in the nation: The Chicago Democratic machine. In reality, the hope was just hype.
Now voters seek salvation in fringe movements like the Tea Party, another phony political movement that fronts for big money, hidden agendas and political consultants looking to make a buck.
If some of the Tea Party’s anointed candidates make it to office, things won’t change. As soon as they raise their right hand and swear to uphold the Constitution the promises of campaign 2010 will fade away and the special interests that control them will issue new marching orders.
It’s time to realize that the system itself is broken and that it cannot be repaired by simply feeding new cannon fodder into the grinding gears of politics.
The political system that controls our government cannot be changed as long as the decisions that drive that system are made by those who benefit most from it.
What’s the answer? Hell, I don’t know. I worked inside the political system for a decade and don’t have the answer. I went in an idealist who thought change was possible and emerged a drunk who did it for the money.
Politics is a powerful narcotic far more addictive than cocaine or heroin.
It controls those who fall under its spell.
Even worse, it controls this nation and its future.
And that should scare everyone. |
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