Pyrrhic Victory
The (former) Representative Foley pedophile scandal is disheartening in so many ways. Disheartening is far too soft of a word. Disgusting, disturbing, and a frightening look at how far our democracy has fallen from grace. The 24-hour news networks have done a real bang-up job telling us what Foley said, when he said it, how he said it, who knew he said it, and so on. They focus on the immediate, the visceral, the sound-bite worthy. I’m looking one layer below: what does this mean for the [once]great institution that is the United States?
This decade will be, without question, the defining decade for the next century. The decisions made, wars started, and legal precedence set post-9/11 have already darkened the world and tarnished our democracy. The relative peace of the 1990’s is forever shattered, with U.S. forces embroiled in another un-winnable war in a foreign region. Our constitution is losing power by the day, by the pen of Congress and the president. We are ignoring the telling signs of a pending energy shortage and global climate change. Our education system is falling behind the rest of the world. I could go on, but I think my point is clear.
How does this relate to Foley and his appetite for young boys?
Because this is the topic that is finally swinging the pendulum. Six years of incompetence and misdirection by GOP-controlled Congress and Whitehouse wasn’t enough to convince the public that we needed a change. It took a filthy old man from Florida to stir the political emotions of the nation. This drives me crazy!
In the grand scheme of things, Foley is a footnote. He doesn’t matter. Iraq matters. Afghanistan matters. Illegal torture prisons matter. The constitution matters! Our future matters!
We need to wake up and unplug the TV. Democracy is about issues, not about personalities. The great debates should be about policy, not perverts.
If this is what it takes to get the Republicans out of office, then I’m afraid it’s but a Pyrrhic victory.
Filed under Uncategorized : Comments (0) : Oct 10th, 2006 by tadfad
