Is there an honest man - even one? - Granite Grok

Is there an honest man – even one?

My Samsphere friend and blogger Maggie Thurber was ruminating on whether or not we could actually create the Constitution again (assuming that it did not exist).  Given the current political scene, how far we have strayed from it, her outlook is rather pessimistic (given that the second idea for the title of her post was "An honest man, an honest man! Our nation for an honest man!"):

…In developing the structure of government, they placed limits on it while leaving citizens with the power and authority. They studied the histories and did their best to address deficits that led other governments to their downfall. They considered future needs (the amendment process) and thought through the way things would work. They anticipated consequences and posed – and answered – questions about how things should be conducted and ‘what if…’ scenarios.

In thinking about all of this, I couldn’t help but wonder if we have that capacity today? Sadly, I do not think so.

Too many of our elected representatives are interested only in catering to the special interests that put them in the position in the first place. We have politicians at all levels refer to ‘working families’ which we all know is code for ‘union.’ They emphasize that their votes/actions are for the ‘working families.’ But they are not elected to represent only a specific portion of our population; they are supposed to be doing what is in the best interest of ALL!

In the last 90 years, we’ve expanded our federal government beyond all imagination of our founders. Government rules us – through regulations and codes and laws – even to the point where we cannot possibly understand it all and often have to consult ‘experts’ (accountants, attorneys, specialists) to help us know what it is we’re supposed to do to be in compliance.

Government tells us what kind of car we can buy, what kind of light bulb we can use, how much water our toilets can process, what information must be present on our food packaging, what kind of bag to use at the grocery store, what kind of fence we can put up, what kind of dock we can build on our waterfronts (if we can even build one at all!), what the volume level of our commercials on TV can be, and on and on and on.

Land of the Free?  Perhaps the patina of such – but as Maggie shows, true freedom would preclude government from ever being able to do such.  Politicians true to the ideals of the Founders would never come up with such nor support them (and once again, watch Rand Paul skewer those bureaucrats that believe they are doing such great work).

I do wonder if circumstances warranted it, could we find a group of people equal to the task?  Could we find such a crew that could do the heavy lifting to actually find equality among the checks and balances needed (and not the faux use of the word "equality" that is de rigeur today)?  Heck, the party in power, can’t even carry out their main Constitutional duty – create a budget!  Our President can’t restrain his agencies and departments so as to be in compliance with the law!

Sadly, I think I might have to agree with them.  Sure, here in NH, the NH House has been trying to rewind the Progressive and Big Government clock, but the NH Senate has not been as gung-ho.  And in DC – are you kidding?  When you think all of all the screwball ideas that passes for great thoughts, don’t you shudder?  Just remember, many don’t even acknowledge that what they do is not Constitutional (re: Nancy Pelosi’s "Are you serious?" when asked about the authority to pass Obamacare).

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