The Washington game: A cynic's take on politics

Among my friends, I'm known as a bit of a contrarian with respect to politics. I guess I stop just short of being a cynic, if only in my mind.

Last night, I was at BW3 with some friends to watch the Alabama-Clemson game (it wasn't on Comcast around here) and at halftime the talk turned to the presidential race.

As is my custom, I have a somewhat negative view of both major party tickets this year.

And while I realize that one seemingly has to be preferable to the other, I've never been convinced that this country changes in any earth-shattering way as a result of a change in leadership at the top.

With Obama as president, would my life change in any significant way? Probably not. And the same goes for McCain.

Putting aside the empty suits currently being vetted by the American people, I'm not going to be all too inclined to get excited about any candidate in either party. Any politician (and we always elect politicians) that can rise to a presidential level of acclaim is CERTAIN to have long sold off principles, in favor of the feeble attempt to be all things to all people.

Politicians like Obama and McCain are rewarded for deceit and pandering with votes every four years. And this election cycle we can add to that hero worship.

This is not to say that both men are unworthy of being president, of course; what I am saying is that we should demand more of our public servants. "Well, that's just politics" or "that's how the game is played" are shameful justifications for behavior that would not have been tolerated in grade school.

There is a reason why the Democratic National Convention (and the upcoming Republican one, too) better reflect ComicCon than a legitimate exercise in democracy.

Most politicians think the American people are stupid, and why shouldn't they?

You've heard Obama say the following words ad nauseum during this election, but have you really thought about what he is saying?:

"The stakes are too high and the challenges are too great to play the same old Washington game with the same old Washington players and expect a different result."

I'm not stupid; I know that if someone is pitching a ball with a glove on the opposite hand and someone else is swinging a bat with helmet and cleats, they're probably playing baseball.

Obama wants you to believe it's not baseball, but something new and totally different.

How can a politician use the bats, balls and gloves of the "Washington game" and claim to be engaged in something else?

It's simple really: we WANT to be believe in change, even though we lack even the smallest shred of evidence that one person is capable of making good on such an unlikely proposition.

Both McCain and Obama are members of an impotent legislature that moonlights as a millionaire's club.

They are members of an oligarchy taking pains to convince us that they're our equals by diminshing their inflated sense of self every four years.

Just ask Senator Biden who, in his speech in which he accepted the Democratic Party's nomination for VP, said this:

“My mother's creed is the American creed: No one is better than you. Everyone is your equal, and everyone is equal to you.”

Do you believe him?

Or, perhaps a better question: Do you believe that he believes it?

At least Britain has a common house alongside a House of Lords.

My standard

To be completely honest, however, I have what could rightly be considered an unreachably high standard for public servants.

It goes something like this, from Romans 12:

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited...do not repay anyone evil for evil...if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath.

How do you find your elected officials these days?

In harmony with one another?
Humble?
Willing to associate with commoners in any substantial way?
Full of grace?
Affecting peace in the world?

What happened to our expectations? These days, politicians stop at nothing to feign equality with all people. But why? In a perfect world, our elected representatives would reflect the best of us, morally, socially and intellectually.

Robert Novak, the recently retired political columnist from the Chicago Sun-Times, said it best:

"It is hard to write about politicians, see them at such close range, and still think of any of them as heroes."