In the old days, professional athletes worked construction in the off season. Training camps were designed for the purpose of "getting in shape." Then came a flood of dollars, strength coaches, speed coaches, specialty clinics, consultants, hypnotists...thus sprouted the proclamation: There is no off season.
Money is affecting politics in much the same way it changed professional sports. There is no longer an off season. While that maxim might already ring true, it is being accelerated by the Wisconsin recall elections. Six Wisconsin Senate seats are being contested not because the Senators got caught with their hands in the cookie jar or were stuck with the proverbial live girl or dead boy. No, there is no scandal. There is only the almighty dollar, an organized political machine, and most importantly, a deep change in political philosophy.
No longer are the outcomes of elections respected. "If we lose the election, we can win in the courts or via the Department of Department Department. If those measures fail, we will use our deeper pockets and the recall to get our way."
The verbiage of uncompromising tea partiers continues to pile up higher and deeper.Meanwhile, it is the anti-tea factions who cannot compromise. They hide out in neighboring states to prevent the formation of a quorum. They make every effort to smear and defame honest people who disagree with them. Even fairly won elections are subject to immediate rematch.
Wisconsin is probably a harbinger. The Democrats have deeper pockets. They have most of the millionaires and billionaires on their side. They can wear down opponents by staging elections every six months. And the Democratic Party no longer has the ethos of their forefathers. They will try to win at all costs, scruples be damned.
So, if you love politics, your future looks bright. No longer will we just be treated to a Fall lineup of thrillers and chillers. Now, we will also enjoy the Summer reruns. Great news for political junkies. Not sure about the rest of us.
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