meet the new politics, just like the old politics

Last updated on: January 18, 2017 at 10:06 pm by Kate Cousino

meet the new politics, just like the old politics 2017-01-18T22:06:13-04:00 Kate Cousino

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

When was the last time, post-Washington, that you ever heard of a president or a federal government relinquishing a power, regardless of where or when that power came from?

Well, the current administration is no different.

One of Bush’s critics takes offense at the current administrations failure to reverse the very same invasions of privacy and failure of due process abuses that now-President Obama once campaigned against.

Which is why, among other reasons, I was wary of such things as the Patriot Act and other privileges the previous administration claimed to need. Plenty of conservatives defended Bush’s ever-growing executive powers because they believed it was necessary in the fight against terrorism and they trusted him not to misuse them. This is incredibly short-sighted – as I pointed out to some friends at the time, ‘your guy’ will not always be in office, and do you really want your ideological opponents and whoever else may hold that position for the life of the republic to have those powers?

(Speaking of life of the Republic...story is that the DHS now consider that members of groups promoting the rights and powers of states are ‘right-wing extremists’ and potentially dangerous. So much for the Republic. I welcome debate on whether we’re heading to true democracy or towards oligarchy).

I’m feeling pretty justified regarding my cynicism about politicians in general and one Chicago politician in particular…not that I wouldn’t prefer to be wrong! I don’t, however, think that it will be very easy for this guy to hold on to a second term if anyone even half-decent can be found to oppose him. He’s already proven to be completely tone-deaf with regards to the Vatican, disabled persons, British leadership, pro-lifers, muslims, personal liberties activists, French President Sarkozy, and more. I took some flak before the election from friends that thought I was being partisan and ignorant in my reservations about Obama (the partisan thing is funny, since I’m not even able to vote). Isn’t this a time for Unity?? Change?? Hope??

But we can’t have any of those things – Unity, Change, Hope – if we are not agreed upon what we are hoping for, what we want to change, and unless we have some substantial common ground to unite upon. Without real work to address real differences all of these words are empty, meaningless show and puffery.

So there. I rarely write about politics, since there are so many other voices out there, most of them with more time and greater inclination to follow each and every intricacy. Every once in a while though it spills over, usually when I have it confirmed for me once again that the qualities necessary to attain power and the qualities necessary to wield it well and justly are rarely, if ever, co-existant in the same man. There is no place for another President Washington in Washington, DC.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

April 7, 2009

Newman inspired anti-Nazi heroine and martyr

Next Post

April 16, 2009 Ok, I'm a total sap, I know...

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category ADHD Blog Business Body and Soul Books Faith Faith in Action Family Feminism Fertility Awareness Friendship Geekiness Guest Post History Hope Just For Fun Love Marriage Memory Mental Exercise Movies Parenting Personalism Poetry Prayer Quotes Scripture Seven Quick Takes Striving for Holiness Television The Stories We Tell The World Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 August 2016 June 2016 March 2016 January 2016 November 2015 October 2015 August 2015 July 2015 May 2015 April 2015 February 2015 December 2014 November 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 August 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 November 2009 October 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What book comes directly after Lamentations?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Hosea Jeremiah Ezekiel Daniel

Support this
Column