Lords of the Lies

The Flogging Whip is in a tizzy. Where to aim its icy strips of pain? Should it snarl into politics again? Slap another Menz of Power for unwanted sexual advances (Rep. David Wu, D-Oregon), or flail a certain male celebrity for constantly looking like an unwashed survivor of the end of the world, even when not in character for a film on the subject? (Ahem.)

Considering that quite a few Congressional websites appeared to crash * following President Obama’s little televised speech last evening in which he suggested viewers contact their representatives to express their opinion on the debt ceiling fracas, the Whip will slink in a political direction.  

From a U.S.-based perspective, it’s very clear how disgusted the populace is with the so-called “leaders” in Washington DC, aka Washed-In-Tea, whether one is a Democrat or Republican.  How many Op-Ed’s, blog posts, pundit chokes, comedic jokes, can any of us take on this appalling debt ceiling blame-game?

Most of us are completely wrung-out, strung-out, or numbed-out on the subject. And we still have one week to go before the government may or may not shut down. One week.

Other than lighting comedian’s fires to rise to the invasion of the “Can’t-or-Bay-No’s” in Congress, no one else is really laughing.

Am I taking all of this nonsense too seriously? No.

Don’t I know by now that politics is a dirty business; that not even absolute power but any form of power in the “wrong” hands will ultimately corrupt absolutely? Yes.

Do I believe the government will default on August 2? No.

Then why am I continuing to angst-out about the inevitable conclusion?

Because, in America, where many of us were promised a dream that did and has and will, for some, come true, it is still a painful experience to grow up only to learn that Mommy and Daddy are getting a divorce; they no longer love each other and are in bed with other partners who are influencing them to send us off to a different school, neighborhood, state; that both are willing to use us as pawns in their sick little games simply because they don’t respect each other, and that one of them hates the other enough to kick us where it hurts.

So, as a young country compared to others, the current implosion of our government’s hubris is forcing us to grow up and face the reality that all is not what we were led to believe. We are experiencing the classic “growing pains” of youth. And growing pains are precisely that: pains.

What should kids do when they finally realize that their parents aren’t acting like responsible caretakers? Run away? To where? Another household with less drama but a language not quite their own? Or stage a kid’s revolution where parents are no longer in charge? Wouldn’t such an action end up to be another version of Lord of the Flies? But then, aren't the "adults" behaving in the same fashion as the children in William Golding's classic novel?

Without a form of leadership, no tribe on earth has thrived or survived through difficult times.

The natives are, indeed, getting restless over here.

* Congressional Websites Down