March 20, 2016 6:16 AM

The first mistake is assuming that public service actually has anything to do with service...or the public

Perhaps it’s my extended recovery from knee surgery and too many episodes of “House of Cards” that’s set me to thinking. Fictional though it may be, seeing so much Machiavellian calculation is starting to seem almost normal. When I look at what’s happening in this country today, “House of Cards” doesn’t seem so far fetched…and it scares me.

I’ve never been naive enough to believe that public service (especially inside the Beltway) has anything to do with public service. Politics is too often the last refuge of scoundrels- those who serve their own ego and self-interest above all else. Power is one leg of the Holy Trinity of human venality- the others being money and sex- and one that appeals to those possessed of ambition and a lack of palatable private sector career options. What’s happening in Washington and on the campaign trail speaks to a political class far more concerned with salving their fragile egos and advancing their political prospects.

I try hard not to allow humorless cynicism to creep into my thinking. I like to believe that our democracy can foster the hope and the belief that politics can make this country a better place, that the process can work to improve the lives and conditions of Americans. Perhaps it could- if we could be bothered to pay attention and react to facts and truth instead of fear-mongering and propaganda. Our collective lack of interest in and concern for what’s being done in our name might be what ultimately leads to the crumbling of our democracy. I’m not trying to project pessimism, just a concern that we’re meekly acquiescing to the creation of an America we’ll wake up to one morning and not recognize.

Is this what we want?

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on March 20, 2016 6:16 AM.

Two good arguments against lead paint was the previous entry in this blog.

Let the will of the people be heard...as long as what it's what we want to hear is the next entry in this blog.

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