U.S. Congress
On the eve of the likely shutdown of the United States government, I offer some thoughts on the noble men and women of the House of Reprehensibles. . . I mean, Representatives. . . making this all possible, perspectives from a mind far greater than my own:
“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.”
“Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself.”
“There is no distinctly American criminal class – except Congress.”
“Fleas can be taught nearly anything that a Congressman can.”
As you may know or have suspected, these pearls of wisdom come from Mark Twain, the greatest writer this nation has ever produced. But there may be another perspective on the current situation, and it was uttered long before there even was an American congress.
This quote, another of my favorites, comes from the English Puritan leader Oliver Cromwell, and was delivered to the House of Commons upon the dissolution of the so-called “Long Parliament” on April 20, 1653:
“It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored by your contempt for all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; ye are a factious crew, enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.
“Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse; gold is your God; which of you have not barter’d your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth?
“Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defil’d this sacred place, and turn’d the Lord’s temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices? Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress’d, are yourselves gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors.
“In the name of God, go!”
Sound relevant?
And one more thing, esteemed members of Congress: Everyone is now fretting about you shutting down the government. If you, in fact, do so, don’t be surprised if the sentiment is overwhelming to keep it shut down, and your factious, intolerably odious crew with it.
Even though I am not an expert in what is happening, I would think “politician politics” should stop being played when the country is at stakes. More than the country, actually, as there will be shockwaves in the whole world if America is a mess.
Not paying pensions, federal employees, medical benefits, debts, shutting down government services (what about public schools?), and these people still believe it is worth playing games? I may be wrong to be, but I am appalled… and I am not even an American.
I’ve known ever since the year of the chad that my Congressmen here in Texas could not care less whether I know they’re representing my interests or not. No one I knew who wrote letters or called their offices during that debacle received so much as a reply , even to justify their actions.
I was just telling a stranger over lunch, as CNN played, “It hasn’t always been this way,” but I guess just not in my lifetime.
“When it comes to libelous rumors, the American right wing is unparalleled in the things they can think up, demonstrating what strange subconsciousnesses they must have, as they have no conscious minds, at least visible thus far, to the voters.”
– Gore Vidal, “Snapshots in History’s Glare”
Take that, you cads!
And may Gore rest in peace, at least until his spirit gets bored. He was one of the greats.
Love him. I have a dog named Myra, in fact.
I like Cromwell’s speech and I agree with the last, I for one hope the government stays shut down…at least a year….all the way to the Fall 2014 election. After 1 year of suffering we’ll see if the public leaves even one of the current creeps in office.
Politicians like this must be ‘punished’. The minority party in this was not elected to lead, has lost back to back national elections, polls show the public does not support their positions yet they are…punishing the people/ country… with a government shut down…because they don’t get their minority way…even though the majority doesn’t want it and they were not elected to lead! It’s….blackmail and political terrorism…holding the people and their own country ‘hostage’ to reverse the vote of 2008, 2012, against the wish of the majority and the elected government!
It’s ridiculous/ incredible, something like you’d expect some terrorist party to do in Egypt or someplace.
Like Cromwell said….I say to those doing this ‘In the Name of God…go’….and in 2014 they will.
P.S. Frankly I’d try to find a way to have them arrested and jailed for their behavior before then. Just because you lose an election and the vote in Congress you can’t shut down the government until everyone gives in….that’s dictatorship…and that’s illegal.
Mr. Olshaker-
If there is a shutdown, will the Knox-Sollecito briefing still take place on Wednesday morning?
Do you know if the general public is allowed to attend?
Thanks.
We are still waiting to hear, Tom. And yes, the general public should be allowed in if we are able to go forward.