The Washington Charade

...a man's first duty is to his own conscience and honor; the party and country come second to that, and never first.
- Mark Twain, a Biography

I have received numerous phone calls, emails, and facebook posts since my last blog.  It is satisfying to know that I have been able to open minds to the current political circus.  I think it would serve us all to step back, take off our party loyalties, and do some real thinking.  If you will think for yourself, the charade crumbles.  When you scrape away the gilded facade and tear down the Washington stage set, you will only find a group of children playing at government.

We can always expect children to be self-centered.  We can expect them to live in the moment only.  We can expect them to be naive about the world.  Adults, however, may be expected to sacrifice for others.  We might expect adults to plan and work for the future good.  We also might expect adults to have some practical experience perhaps even wisdom.

Unfortunately, in Washington over the past days we have seen a horrifying display of extreme childishness.  We have seen political children.  The current crop of politicians may have degrees and resumes, but they are children.  The most telling accusation of all is that they show no leadership.  For many reasons adults must lead.  Today, these so-called leaders of the United States of America do not know what the word means. 

It is true the 535 members of the senate and congress cannot all be leaders, but somewhere in the halls somebody needs to step up.  President Obama is supposed to lead.  He is willing to sit back, let others place proposals on the table, and then shot them down.  The President is supposed to put the proposals on the table.  It's his job.  He controls the agenda.  Where is our Presidential leadership these days? 

The Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate are supposed to lead.  Where is any evidence of real leadership?  The party leaders are expected to step up.  Where are they?  They may try to act like leaders and pose for photos like leaders, but real leadership cannot be faked.  Now that we face a crisis the charade is falling apart before our eyes. 

Every cloud has a silver lining.  The silver lining may be the opportunity to see our politicians for what they really are.  Perhaps we need to select our leaders more carefully.  Maybe choosing adults with a little wisdom could be helpful.

In the final analysis it all boils down to this--we have a government filled with children.  They may be forty, fifty, sixty, or eighty years old, but they are children.  Where are the adults?  Where are the men and women we need in 2011?  Our future may depend on finding them.