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In Germany during the two World Wars, the allied trade blockade necessitated the creation of ersatz forms of petroleum, coffee, tobacco, and sausage. With rare exception these artificial substitutions were inferior in every way but name and appearance. So it is with most twenty-first century American politicians.
We Earn What We Get
Like sausage made from sawdust, it is the rare local, state, or national politico whose talk is matched by walk. There is reason that politicians consistently rank lower than lawyers and bankers on Gallup's annual honesty and ethics survey.
Unfortunately, it remains that people and cultures rarely get more than what is earned and thus the character of our politicians reveals disturbing truths about you and me. Our politicians deceive partially because the voting majority seeks comfort and promises more often than truth and reality.
True Public Servants are in Short Supply
If you're looking for the deeper motivations churning at the core of the political elite, look no further than the words vanity, power, and wealth. This cocktail of corruption is the life breath of local and state leaders as surely as those on Capitol Hill.
The importance of wealth in politics is easily affirmed. With rare exceptions, politicians simply don't get elected unless they have money or friends who have money. Trace the private dollars and Political Action Committee contributions and, except where the PACs are playing both sides, the winner can routinely be predetermined.
There is a reason why power over principle is the true mission of major political parties. Power lays the foundation for more power and with this 'p' word comes opportunity, comfort and other pay-offs. Being human, we all understand the equation of temptation - politicians are just better at the game.
The Need to be Liked
Venerable actor Al Pacino, playing the role of Satan in the movie 'The Devil's Advocate', defined vanity as, "his favorite sin". It's the sin with sharp claws that quickly ensnare with the poison of denial. It's the masquerading state of being whereby the insecure become addicted to the need for a persisting fix of validation.
The politically anointed have a deep rooted need to be liked. The 'Lion of Liberalism', recently departed Ted Kennedy, was a master at giving away other people's money and appearing virtuous in the process. Robbing Peter to pay Paul pretty well guarantees accolades from Paul, and evidently guys who drown their date and get away with it are quick studies in currying this equation of shame.
Politicians seeking a vanity fix have other resources. Promising something for nothing and borrowing to fund those promises are two standouts. If you have wondered how in the world 538 elected officials in Washington could create a budget that requires more money than exists in the world, behold vanity.
Our new President is a proven master at seducing voters with the promise of something for nothing. With the studied instincts of a community organizer slash sophisticated social predator, the candidate Obama enthralled audiences with a personalized message of hope and change. Enough participants bought into his political Ponzi scheme to get him elected.
It took Bernie Madoff's investment crowd decades to learn they had been had and the better part of one term for conservative Bush supporters and authentic Republicans to start holding their nose. Wonder how long it will take Obama's fans to catch on to how many pieces are missing from his puzzle?
People Make Poor Pets
The most sadistic action of the politically anointed comes through their effort to foster constituent dependency. From Aristotle's time until today, a parade of wisdom has demonstrated that freedom and happiness are best found through personal and cultural productivity and accountability.
Nonetheless, reality consistently demonstrates that dependency and entitlement attitudes are pathologically fostered by those seeking personal gain. It's called 'chumming' and it works just as well with people as fish.
Conservative thinker Thomas Sowell's 'Vision of the Anointed' describes the process of corrupting others for personal gain. Seducers in politics, religion, education, and business more often than not label their chumming behaviors as sincere, loving, and responsible. Those being chummed take the bait only to become food for bigger fish.
Making someone less responsible and more dependent is the absolute opposite of love. Instead, what results is an unholy alliance whereby all concerned become morally corrupt. Nature repeatedly demonstrates there are no free lunches and those promising something for nothing are not true friends.
It is the conservative position that people make poor pets and that dependency robs humans of their dignity, liberty, and hope. It is the liberal's position that people are pets and government is here to benevolently maintain the cage. Vanity driven politicians are quick to spot which side promises the most butter for their bread.
We live in a culture full of distractions from accountabilities of God's commandments and the demands of nature's reality. It's easy to see why our liberal minded politicians are winning so many hearts and minds in the land of the free and home of the brave. It behooves us to resist their seductions for the same reason a smart fish ignores dead bait.
Carl Mumpower
The Candid Conservative
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