Here We Go Again – Norman Weekes

One of the problems of age is living through the repeated mistakes of the past. Decisions that lead us down a road we’ve been down before only to ensure suffering, punishment and horror on a new generation. The inexplicable replay of a nightmare that surely once lived would never return. But we see the same policies and bloodlust for profit override common sense. And so the McRib returns.

I tried the McRib when it originally debuted. I admit it. I am ashamed that I would try a meat substance named a rib which has no bone put between two pieces of bread. I know the rib bone was put there by God so we could eat the meat without putting it between two pieces of bread. I know adding barbeque sauce can make anything edible. I also know McDonald’s would sell zombie meat if they thought people would by it. I know this and still ate (most of)  that thing. Yet the temptation to simplify something perfect was too much to resist. I won’t get fooled again. 

Really?

Celebrity newscaster Diane Sawyer publicly declared her affinity for the mystery sandwich. Her Nixonian roots lead me to believe she doesn’t really like the McRib (I just can’t see anyone making her salary eating anything from McDonald’s) and she’s practicing good old fashioned advertiser ass-kissing. That’s the problem with our propensity to make mistakes. Half of it is agenda driven and the other half is ignorance.

The McRib is only a symbol. Vietnam/Afghanistan, 1929/2008, The Gilded Age/The Present Age, Clarence Thomas/ Herman Cain. We don’t teach, we don’t learn, we don’t remember. We walk out of movie sequels saying, “That wasn’t as good as the first one.”  Style trumps substance, marriage becomes a business model, athletes are our spiritual leaders and there’s no national moral compass, GPS or iPhone voice to tell us how to behave. We should know better but we don’t.

Three-eyed-fish - from The Simpsons

Three weeks before 9/11 we were a country self absorbed with shark attacks in Florida. Then the planes exploded and we rallied around our president, our country and each other. Shortly after George told us to go shopping, invaded Iraq while we were at the mall and the feel good ended.

Now we feel good again because of the hope and awakening of the Occupi. The leaderless organization as an agent of international change is new and exciting. I hope it is successful. But if they anoint a leader and begin to “negotiate” I’ll politely pass on this sequel.

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Norman Weekes is a volunteer in social justice non profits, account executive looking for work and occasional political activist.

 

The Supreme Court: An Untouchable Whorehouse

There seems to be something beyond the Constitution, legal intent or precedent creeping into Supreme Court decisions.

Is the Judicial arm of our government the last branch to turn to whoring? A few of the Supreme Court Justices appear open to corporate influence.

It’s been reported that prior to one of the most controversial decisions in Supreme Court history, Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas attended a private event hosted by Koch Industries. The purpose of the Justices’ attendance has not been forthcoming—disclosure has been requested but the parties aren’t talking. The Koch Brothers and their companies are legendary for political and agenda financing. It has also come to light that these two Justices attend political fund raising events linked to the Koch Brothers.

Based on recent Supreme Court decision, the impartiality of Justices Scalia and Thomas is extremely suspect, especially considering their unclear participation at think-tank and fund raising events.

With all the favor-spending by special interests, PACs and lobbyists, people today have little faith in the Legislative and Executive branches of government. Our last pillar of hope was the judicial branch. And now, the Supreme Court – the deciders of right and wrong, the final stop – appears to have fallen into the outhouse of corporate influence.

What would the Founding Fathers think of this apparent Supreme Court whoredom? During the initial years of our country, corporations were despised and if they tried to influence any branch of government a heavy hand would come their way. The Founding Fathers did not anticipate that ultimate power would land in the hands of Big Business. The signers of the Declaration of Independence are probably trying to crawl out of their graves to start a new revolution.

There may be truth to the old adage that judges wear nothing beneath those imposing black robes.  Perhaps it’s to give Big Business easy access to slide in from behind.

Will this insidious behavior filter through all levels of the judicial system?  And how long will we allow this backdoor alliance between Big Business and the Justices continue?

-Roger Ingalls

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Roger Ingalls is well travelled and has seen the good and bad of many foreign governments. He hopes his blogging will encourage readers to think more deeply about the American political system and its impact on US citizens and the international community.