[Grovenet] out on a limb again

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

I agree with you, Mike. 

You turned my statement around, but it's not symmetrical. I said that the
politicians reflect who we are as a nation, *not* that who we are as a
nation is a reflection of our politicians. 

But before I go too far, I firmly believe that there are a great many
politicians and bureaucrats at all levels from the city to Washington D.C.
who are honest, intelligent, public spirited and who have given a great deal
for our country. Indeed, I suspect that if we could take an accurate census,
we'd find that the number of "savagely power hungry, thieving, hypocritical,
materialistic, amoral, conspiratorial, unacquainted with telling the truth,
and so forth..." people are a small minority. Unfortunately, being who they
are they scramble for the positions of power and, unfortunately, the masses
too often respond to their manipulations and endorse their wishes by voting
for them without asking enough hard questions. 

That's the mechanism by which I believe our government ends up being a
reflection of the nation. 

Ron D'Eau Claire 

-----Original Message-----
From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
Behalf Of Steele, Mike
Sent: Friday, September 14, 2007 1:49 PM
To: Forest Grove local interests list
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] out on a limb again


I'm not so sure that the nation, the people, reflect what we see as the
daily political reality in DC.  Most people known to me are not savagely
power hungry, thieving, hypocritical, materialistic, amoral, conspiratorial,
unacquainted with telling the truth, and so forth. Another long list.
Having said that, it's also apparent that the average person is not deeply
interested in seeing these negative traits removed to prison or banished
from the village square.  We somehow put up with it, perhaps buoyed by the
few exceptions out there.  Would that this were not so.

--Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
Behalf Of Ron D'Eau Claire
Sent: Friday, September 14, 2007 8:47 AM
To: 'Forest Grove local interests list'
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] out on a limb again

Washington, indeed our politicians everywhere, are simply a reflection of
who we are as a nation. 

Changing Washington is as futile as changing the reflection we see in the
mirror by changing mirrors. If we don't like what we see, we need to change
its source.

To change its source, we need to approach the issue with a fundamental
change in the attitudes and outlook of the people. The "Religious Right" did
that quite successfully but, like most theocracies (or psuedo-theocracies
like that movement) driving people like cattle with prods of fear never
lasts over time. Particularly when too many of its leaders are corrupt. Even
the Religious Right had to choose its leaders from the same pool of humanity
we are all members of.

Personally, I believe change begins with education from the a-b-c's to an
understanding of what our country is all about and why we exist. If a huge
number of people can't even find Wisconsin on the map, how can they
comprehend the fundamental principles upon which our republic was founded
and what it needs to thrive? 

I believe the ugliness we see expressed at the polls and in Washington is a
direct result of our choices years past. What exists in the future will be a
direct result of our choices today. 

As the saying goes, "If you don't know where you are going, any road will
take you there." 

Decades ago the "Religious Right" using the power of the "Moral Majority"
promised to lead America into the future. Enough people believed them that
we've seen whole elections turn on no more than a persistent image of the
candidate professing his faith in God. But, for a public who knows little
about our country, what else is there to consider when voting? 

And now, we have arrived.

As another old saying goes, "People get the government they deserve."  

Ron D'Eau Claire 


-----Original Message-----
From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
Behalf Of Steven
Sent: Friday, September 14, 2007 6:43 AM
To: Forest Grove local interests list
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] out on a limb again


Who among them will do that?

David Morelli wrote:

> 
> Don't expect him to clean up the moral morass in Washington.
> 
> David
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> GroveNet mailing list
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