I've actually never realized until now, but this year's election has to be the best example yet that our country is really just an oligarchy. I know it's a bit cliche to say that politicians are out of touch and intersted only in special interests, but it's so absolutely true this year. When it boils down to it, we have A Wealthy Son-of-Bitch running against A Rich Asshole. A Texas Oil Baron against a New England Aristocrat. 225 years of "progress" and our political leaders still hail from either Dixie or Massachusetts. I seethe everytime Kerry speaks of "Two Americas" and then retires to his yacht and mansions; or Bush jets off to his ranch for a "working vacation." And this is all coming from someone (me!) who would love to be rich, famous, and powerful. That's the American Dream for ya.
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January 2007: Sweet fancy Moses, Alex got engaged! Also, alphabet.
2 Comments:
On the face of it I agree, but the key difference is a rich person who wants to help rich people and a rich person who wants to help everyone (or help poor people at the expense of rich people, depending on how you look at it). I don't really get the "Kerry's rich so he can't be a populist" thing. More power to him if he's rich and still wants to help. All politicians are at least well off, since being a politician pays relatively well. The difference is a desire to give everyone the same opportunities... to look at one's own wealthy upbringing (not that I had one) and say either "I deserved everything I got" or "I wish everyone had the same opportunities that my wealth afforded me." I know which one I'd rather have.
ps- I also hate the faux populist bullshit that is Bush's ranch. It's a campaign prop. He doesn't even like horses.
The man does enjoy fishing, however. He's just like regular folk!
I guess the question is -- are there any poor men in politics? After all, senators make $100,000 a year (or something like that). Unless we're talking state legislature, politics has always been a rich man's game. It's just a matter of degrees, at this point.
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