Disconnect

Critized in Dubai mall for
wearing low-cut blouse,
English woman strips to bikini.

Unless you have been hiding under a rock somewhere you will know that a Federal Judge has declared Proposition 8 unconstitutional. I am not a lawyer, have never studied law, but I have often been told I have a “legal mind” (read devious). This Judge not only declared Proposition 8 unconstitutional, in a 138 page decision he virtually demolished any arguments in favor of that particular form of discrimination. I believe his decision is so definitive even the current Robert’s Supreme Court, those five judges that constitute a majority, that capitalistic worshipping, corporate toadying, activist cabal, will not be able to overturn it. But don’t count them out, anyone who believes corporations are persons is probably capable of anything. Even more fascinating, if true, is that the Judge himself is gay (I have heard someone say this but I don’t know if it is true). So…if the Judge is gay, does that disqualify him from deciding the issue of gay marriage? One might think so, but then, it seems to my lawyerly mind, you would have to disqualify heterosexuals from deciding issues having to do with heterosexual marriages. Would this make sense? It would only if you assume that gays are somehow less competent or honest or qualified than others. Actually, I never wanted to be a lawyer.

Elena Kagan was confirmed for the Court, 63 to 37. This was a foregone conclusion. But interestingly, even strangely, five Republicans voted to confirm her, so even the defection of Democrat-in-Sheep’s-Clothing, Ben Nelson, was irrelevant. What I find the most interesting about this is that I don’t believe those who voted against her had any truly valid reasons to vote no, they just voted no our of their usual opposition to anything Obama wants. In any case, their votes were obviously political, having nothing to do with what was right or wrong or the facts of the matter. This is the problem with our lost democracy, our Congresspersons no longer vote according to what is right or wrong, or what might be good for the country or the citizens, they vote on purely political grounds. This means, in effect, there is no longer any genuine connection between the acts of Congress and the needs of the citizens or the nation. It has become just one gigantic charade, attempting to pull the wool over our eyes, while at the same time insuring their continuing elections and positions. The five Republicans who voted for confirmation obviously knew they could safely do so, while those who voted no simply voted the party line, proving their loyalty to party rather than nation.

What is even more interesting is the similar complete disconnect between what our corporate masters care about and what they encourage their paid-for-Congresspersons to vote for or against. Corporations don’t care in the slightest whether gays marry or not, nor do they care about abortions or even about the rule of law. They only care about keeping in power those who will faithfully perform their duties as instructed. If fringe, fake social issues help things along so much the better. It is simple for business at all levels as they do not have to consider such mundane matters as morality or ethics, or even what the electorate wants, their interest is purely profits. If it makes a profit it is good, if not it is bad. Those who major in business don’t have to concern themselves with anything but economics and business strategies, no liberal arts for them. In this respect they are just like those in Medical Schools where they turn out mechanics who work on the body but know little or nothing outside of their specialties. I realize it seems laughable nowadays that a “liberal education” used to be the main goal of the universities. There are many people even now who believe professional schools like Business, Nursing, Medicine, and Law have no business being part of the university system, and even some old-fashioned enough to believe the function of the university should not be merely to train people for a job. Nowadays we hear that “the business of America is business,” “ what’s good for General Motors is good for the country,” and similar statements that confirm what Margaret Halsey said long ago, the U.S. is a one institution society, and that institution is business.

I would like to pay a belated homage to President Harry Truman. I did not care for Truman as President and I still believe his ordering of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima was both unnecessary and unconscionable, but I have also learned that he ordered the integration of the military in spite of the overwhelming opposition of most everyone, an act of great courage and nobility, done simply because it was the right thing to do. How long has it been since you have seen our Congress do anything because it was the right thing to do?

LKBIQ:
Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.
Peter Drucker

TILT:
Merkeets are immune to the poisonous venom of scorpions.