|
|
|
THE DEATH OF THE DIFFERENCE
Major Party Politics in America
by
H. David Blalock
In a time when America is enjoying a prosperity unparalleled since the post-World War II era, it's difficult to say which of the major political parties would do a better job defending that prosperity. Both would like to claim responsibility for it, but neither can give specifics of why they should. Both parties are still staggering under the constant onslaught of scandals and improprieties executed by their leaders as much as three decades ago, dredged up to slake the prurient tastes of a public jaded by a media that feeds them violence, sex, and degradation twenty-four hours a day.
There is no moral high ground left. Neither major party, not even the minor parties, can find it because it disappeared with the American ideals of honor, truth, and justice.
Our judicial system is crippled by a preponderance of nuisance suits instigated by convicted felons serving time in jail but allowed to exercise constitutional rights they should not, by the strictest definition of that very constitution, still have. Convicted felons used to lose their right to vote, to serve in public office, or work for the U.S. government in sensitive positions. Now they are not only found in civil service jobs, they serve in public office as elected representatives. Our executive branch is riddled with convicted criminals and people who have eluded convictions by the most tenuous of technicalities.
Today's United States government is the more corrupt than most of the governments of Eastern Europe. It has just been determined that the Vice President struck a secret deal with Russia to look the other way at arms deals with Iran in exchange for favors. The President is still under investigation for perjury and stands in contempt of federal court. Congressmen continue to kite checks and take undisclosed fees for personal appearances, use government transportation for personal benefit, and exchange political favors for personal profit.
What happened to morality, ethics, and ideals? Were they always an illusion? Has the harsh light of the media finally been turned on to reveal what has always been hidden under the rocks along the Beltway?
Many people maintain that there is no reason to vote, that no matter what you do there will always be corruption and crime in politics.
I maintain that, to purge the corruption, you must not allow it to set. Vote all incumbents out of office. Never re-elect, and there will be no basis for deep-seated corruption. A Greek philosopher once observed that one should never elect a person to office who actively sought that office. Corruption would be the inevitable result.
Two thousand years later, he is still right.
Visit David Blalock's website at…