[Winona Online Democracy]
Hello John Finn and Winona Online Democracy,
I want to second John's comments about the strange marriage, both literal
and philosophical, of James Carville and Mary Matalin. It's sad but it
does not surprise me. More of this kind of thing happens than most of us
know about.
I went to Washington D.C. in 1988 to become involved in the U.S. Foreign
Service. After living in Washington D.C. for four years, I had a very
different view on our government at the Federal level. Boy, did I have
some chains fall from before my eyes. I left Washington D.C. not wanting
to work for the Federal Government as it currently exists.
I am a strong believer in government, the right of people to rule
themselves for the common good.
But what happens in Washington D.C. is a very different kind of animal. It
has to do with a certain economy of scale that allows corruption and greed
to be magnified to new levels. To understand Washington D.C., one must
become numb to scandals, corruption, and the general muck that hypocrisy on
a large scale elicits. Washington is more like an emperor's court with the
courtiers and powerful nobles milling about it then the paragon of
democracy to put forth to the world as the best model to emulate.
While there are many great people who go to Washington D.C. from all
political backgrounds trying diligently to do what they perceive as the
"right thing", Washington D.C. operates under a different set of rules than
other levels of government. The game is very different. We go through the
motions and pomp and circumstance of a democracy but, in my opinion, the
reality is very different.
I could go on and on about one illusion after another being dashed.
Instead, I'll summarize my thoughts in 3 sentences.
1. Washington D.C. is not a place for people with ideals or ideas, any
real change will come from the political hinterlands, backwaters, and the
"sticks".
2. At the national level, both the Democratic and Republican Parties are
very different than the state and local groups, they do not really care
about local votes or input, just "core groups" and fundraising.
3. It is not the idea of government that is flawed; it is the greed,
unjust power, corruption, and low cultural and commercial values that are
the core problems. (Sometimes the seed is pure but the soil is polluted.)
Enough of those ramblings.
I have a deep trust in local and state governments to help reform and
correct these problems.
What do others think?
Dwayne Voegeli
===================
>From: "John N. Finn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Dwayne Voegeli" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: Re: [Winona] What Is A Conservative?
>Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2001 17:51:08 -0800
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>[Winona Online Democracy]
>
>When getting emotionally caught up in the Democrat vs Republican antics, I
>find it useful to ponder the situation of James Carville and Mary Matalin.
>They are the husband / wife team who were advisors at the highest level for
>the respective presidential campaigns, and are now pundits raking in the big
>bucks by stirring up partisan passions on TV. So how can two people with
>supposedly such opposite beliefs and values be married? Maybe it's because
>to the Washington insiders, it's all a big joke.... a joke on us.
>
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