Your last line sums it up: “But sometimes we really do understand our political moment by following the money.” Yep- even a maintenance fellow at work yesterday told me that money was all that was really worshipped in the U.S. these days, and he is right.
I am utterly convinced that down under the surface money and its flow are all that makes the U.S. run these days. Above the surface we hear the lofty language with words like: good governance, patriotism, liberty, serving, etc. But, at root, the majority of politicians simply want the perks of privilege, power, and money. They serve themselves—quite the opposite of the Nazarene who had no place to lay his head.
I am to blame too. I’ve allowed these political machines to lie to me and I’ve swallowed it. It was back during the Clinton era I began to become disillusioned, and my uneasiness grew. One leader convinced me that weapons of mass destruction merited a brutal attack, I bought it all- not realizing oil, power, and vengeance were really the motivators. … And during that time I finally ceased consuming media from certain “news” outlets because I felt I was receiving propaganda, not news.
Both parties have a corruption problem rooted in the love of money and power. I wonder if term limits on House and Senate members would help…
I’m not sure that we’ve had a truly upright, moral individual occupy the Oval Office since President Carter. He wasn’t perfect. But he tried his best to foster peace and he earnestly tried to follow Jesus. That’s not tolerated in American politics.
Carter was visionary—during his time solar panels were installed at the White House. But Reagan had them removed. I am sad to admit I didn’t even know about this until a few years ago. There’s a lesson here—it’s revealing.
Democracy is fragile and I am worried that it may be broken.
Thanks again John- as always you make me think. I appreciate your tolerance of my rambling. The material is dreary, but you are a blessing.
Your last line sums it up: “But sometimes we really do understand our political moment by following the money.” Yep- even a maintenance fellow at work yesterday told me that money was all that was really worshipped in the U.S. these days, and he is right.
I am utterly convinced that down under the surface money and its flow are all that makes the U.S. run these days. Above the surface we hear the lofty language with words like: good governance, patriotism, liberty, serving, etc. But, at root, the majority of politicians simply want the perks of privilege, power, and money. They serve themselves—quite the opposite of the Nazarene who had no place to lay his head.
I am to blame too. I’ve allowed these political machines to lie to me and I’ve swallowed it. It was back during the Clinton era I began to become disillusioned, and my uneasiness grew. One leader convinced me that weapons of mass destruction merited a brutal attack, I bought it all- not realizing oil, power, and vengeance were really the motivators. … And during that time I finally ceased consuming media from certain “news” outlets because I felt I was receiving propaganda, not news.
Both parties have a corruption problem rooted in the love of money and power. I wonder if term limits on House and Senate members would help…
I’m not sure that we’ve had a truly upright, moral individual occupy the Oval Office since President Carter. He wasn’t perfect. But he tried his best to foster peace and he earnestly tried to follow Jesus. That’s not tolerated in American politics.
Carter was visionary—during his time solar panels were installed at the White House. But Reagan had them removed. I am sad to admit I didn’t even know about this until a few years ago. There’s a lesson here—it’s revealing.
Democracy is fragile and I am worried that it may be broken.
Thanks again John- as always you make me think. I appreciate your tolerance of my rambling. The material is dreary, but you are a blessing.