Steppenwolf

Charlie Rangel had clear sailing in the age we have yet to name. “When we’re talking about the horrors of the Middle Ages, for example; we must remember that these so-called ‘horrors’ are usually overblown. A man of the Middle Ages would find our modern age far more detestable, far more horrible and cruel, far more barbarous than his own. Every age, every culture, every custom and tradition has its own character, its own weakness and its own strength, its beauties and cruelties; it accepts certain sufferings as matters of course and puts up patiently with certain evils.

"Human life is reduced to real suffering - to hell - only when two ages, two cultures and religions overlap. A man of the classical age who had to live in medieval times would suffocate; just as a savage would in the midst of modernity.

"Now there are times when whole generations are caught on the cusp between two ages - between two modes of living - and thus lose a feeling for themselves, for what is self-evident… Charlie's habitual corruption for instance.

"Naturally, not everyone feels the turmoil of upheaval equally strongly, or even within the established framework of the age. A nature such as Nietzsche’s had to suffer his nation’s travail a generation in advance." Rangel, on the other hand, rode the wave comfortably all the way as it was cresting.
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Italics loosely translated from Hermann Hesse’s ’Steppenwolf’.

http://pkoelliker.blogspot.com/

Culture of Corruption

It looks like the ‘culture of corruption’ within the Democrat Party is coming home to roost. Both Rangel and Waters are right to insist on a public airing. They have done nothing that most of their Democrat colleagues haven‘t also done. Nancy Pelosi, for instance. What is surprising is that any of this has even come out. With the Dems in complete control of the process, I would have thought they could have kept it all under wraps. Who would have challenged them? Not Republicans. It speaks of a Democrat party in disarray; in self-destruct mode. The in-fighting has begun and will not end well.

For some time now, I have been alluding to the suspicion that one of this administration’s principal aims is to lay waste Congress in general - and, with it, any vestige of representative governance. Republicans have already shown themselves as woefully ineffective. It stands to reason that the next step is to strike the fatal blow against Democrats as well.

Case and point: Yesterday we witnessed the spectacle of the Senate in action. Sen. Charles Schumer of New York had the floor to himself as he and Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland held a special session to pass a $600 million border security bill which everyone agrees is inadequate. The Senate historian said it was the first time just two Senators passed a bill.

It was a nod to all those who are demanding action on the highly volatile immigration issue. Democrats, in effect, said, “You want a bill? Here’s a bill. Live with it.” The cavalier way in which this non-entity was passed goes along with how the House has been conducting business since the current administration has been in office. “You want it paid for? Fine. We’ll pay for it by raising the fees on H-1B visas which allow foreign workers to work in the U.S. All the bases are covered. Now let’s go home and continue with our summer vacations.”

Meanwhile in India there is much hand-wringing. Indians are well aware of how this small, seemingly throw-away gesture by Democrats affects them. Virtually every middle and upper class family has someone working in the U.S. Many of them can be expected to lose their jobs.

This is a huge issue for them, as well as a loss for us. Indians working here are well educated and highly trained. They fill a niche in any number of specialized fields in which Americans can and do not compete.

So, with yesterday’s throw-away gesture we’ve managed to turn a whole nation against us. Bravo Chuck Schumer, Ben Cardin, Democrats, Republicans, President Obama! You’ve done it again. This is not effective diplomacy. This is shoddy; grandstanding. This strikes at the very root of a nation - a nation that has heretofore been one of our most adoring allies.

MY APOLOGY: Obama is no Marxist

There is something almost irresistibly romantic in those who espouse communism. The young especially, who have lived sheltered lives; who may not yet have ventured out into the real world and are reluctant to do so - to put their mettle to the test; afraid, that once cut off from the proverbial apron strings, they might fail. To them, often the game outside appears rigged. Low self-esteem contributes. They demand an ideal world – a utopia – where every want is a right to be freely accommodated; where no one can claim to have more than any other. And that is the childish fear that permeates every aspect of the human condition: to be seen as having less; of being less than the next best thing one can imagine.

To children at home, it seems that communism works quite well. Dad goes to work and brings home the bacon. The money is shared and given out to each according to his or her need. If the 17-year old should need 50 bucks to take his date out to the burger hop on Saturday night, Dad might spot him the change and even let him borrow the car. The teenager did score a 98 on a health exam this week, after all. Also, he did do an admirable job in cleaning out the garage this past Tuesday. Mom too always seems to have enough cash on hand to buy groceries, get the car washed, and go to the hair salon.

The 17-year old does not yet understand that the communist model breaks down and becomes unworkable when it’s imposed on society at large. He may not yet have read enough of the history books that chronicle the rise and fall of communist nations; of how these never achieved much worth mentioning, and of how it invariably became necessary for the proverbial iron boot to live in close proximity to the collective necks of the people, a constant reminder to those who might count themselves among the elites, and a constant menace to those who might not yet have learned the fine art of boot licking. They might not yet be familiar with terms such as ’gulag’ and ‘re-education center’; or conceive of empty store shelves, hunger, and thwarted opportunity. As such, we might excuse their misguided embrace of a system that promises much but consistently fails to deliver.

With recent revelations by Andrew Breitbart (in conjunction with Matt Drudge and the Glenn Beck radio and FOX News TV programs) of high corruption within taxpayer-funded ACORN, it seems we might have been all too kind in calling our current president a communist. 'Thug' seems a much more appropriate description. But, of course, those who never had occasion to achieve anything more than putting up multi-digit scores on video screens would fail to appreciate even this level of endemic corruption. “They all do it,” is the glib response one is likely to hear out of the mouths of these babes – these hollow Peter Pans. Participatory democracy, the “rule of law”; the concept of “critical thinking”; the “right of ownership”; the freedom to pursue one’s bliss, all this means nothing to them. Been there, done that. Everything still sucks.

It’s more a psychological problem than a political one. People no longer feel the need to mature beyond childhood. Yet life is unstoppable and, for those who refuse to take that turn into adulthood, life becomes pathology.

Particularly with respect to the law we’ve become jaded. Highway speed limit signs read 65. We go 85. We’ve let Clinton off the hook for lying under oath; we refuse to acknowledge criminality on every level. California is set to release thousands of prisoners (presumed criminals) due to budget shortfalls. So what?

Why is it that no attempt has yet been made to identify and punish the culprits who caused our bank failures? Why has the MSM yet to delve into Obama’s past associations, birth certificate controversy, political appointments, agenda, etc? Why is it left up to Breitbart and ‘burlesque queens’ like Limbaugh and Beck to shout out the truth and raise questions. Why were allegations of voter fraud never pursued by Republicans and Democrats alike. Why is Charles Rangel still in office? Why is evidence that points to ‘global warming’ as being a hoax routinely suppressed? Why is there no evidence of highways, bridges and schools being built? Where has all the stimulus money gone?

Our political wars have gone way beyond ideology. We are now firmly entrenched in corruption. It is of such magnitude, it almost defies description. It’s like the eye trying to see itself.

I was wrong when I referred to Obama as a Marxist in past postings. Obama is no Marxist. I apologize to Marxists. Obama, along with the whole bunch of them – Republicans and Democrats alike – is nothing more than a two-bit crook. Look to the likes of Iran, Cuba and Venezuela to know what we are on the verge of becoming.