Imagine a recalcitrant 8 year old child who refuses to go to school. Both his parents work, outside the home. But the child would have nothing to do with waking up early and going to school. The parents offered several options; mum will take you, dad will take you, mum and dad will take you, you will ride to school with the neighbor, you will go with the school bus. The child does not like any of these choices, because the child doesn't want to go to school. Well, the parent took the kid to school, and the kid made a great funk at school - And here is the kicker, everyone blamed the parents for lack of leadership!
Ok. That was a 8 year old. I know my psychologist and child care advocacy friends would consider a set of complex options the parents could take. But let us assume the scenario is no more complex than what I painted. Put the Republicans and their pledge to Grover Norquest in the child's shoes. And now place the Washington establishment and their 2 year long rant of lack of leadership along side. Of course, by lack of leadership, they usually mean to deride the President.
But objectively, what are we to do? Let the Republicans destroy the nation (the child's future) because they are recalcitrant? They, under the able leadership of John Boehner, proved they are up to the task of destroying the nation's credit rating - if it will keep Boehner in the speakership. Boehner and his gang of cowards in both the house and the Senate, would rather see a national default in capitulations to Norquest and the tea-baggers, than defy them, risk their political future, in order to save the nation. They seek ideological purity, even in the face of evidence that their position has led to the demise of many great nations before it. The American experiment is the triumph of the middle class. All prior great nations (call them empires) were nations of a mighty few and a hoard of poor. America, in the twentieth century, was great because it was the first large nation with a thriving middle class. That was the rising tide Jack Kennedy spoke about.
Ok. John Boehner, played another loosing hand on Thursday, and his callow house gang dragged him to the edge. The orange one might very well retain his speakership in January, but a recalcitrant GOP has to learn to read the tea leaves. The nation will soon tire of having a bunch of misfits in high office.
Ok. That was a 8 year old. I know my psychologist and child care advocacy friends would consider a set of complex options the parents could take. But let us assume the scenario is no more complex than what I painted. Put the Republicans and their pledge to Grover Norquest in the child's shoes. And now place the Washington establishment and their 2 year long rant of lack of leadership along side. Of course, by lack of leadership, they usually mean to deride the President.
But objectively, what are we to do? Let the Republicans destroy the nation (the child's future) because they are recalcitrant? They, under the able leadership of John Boehner, proved they are up to the task of destroying the nation's credit rating - if it will keep Boehner in the speakership. Boehner and his gang of cowards in both the house and the Senate, would rather see a national default in capitulations to Norquest and the tea-baggers, than defy them, risk their political future, in order to save the nation. They seek ideological purity, even in the face of evidence that their position has led to the demise of many great nations before it. The American experiment is the triumph of the middle class. All prior great nations (call them empires) were nations of a mighty few and a hoard of poor. America, in the twentieth century, was great because it was the first large nation with a thriving middle class. That was the rising tide Jack Kennedy spoke about.
Ok. John Boehner, played another loosing hand on Thursday, and his callow house gang dragged him to the edge. The orange one might very well retain his speakership in January, but a recalcitrant GOP has to learn to read the tea leaves. The nation will soon tire of having a bunch of misfits in high office.
Comments
Post a Comment