Just a little ramble for the holidays…
In America, you can be an Armed Forces hero. You can earn a Bronze Star for bravery or maybe a Purple Heart if you were lucky enough to survive a wounding. In America, you can leave the military, attend college, and earn a degree for a prestigious profession such as an attorney. In America, you can continue serving your country by holding a public office. And if you play your cards right, you can accomplish many great things there such as making a better world for an underprivileged minority, or rebuilding neighborhoods, or cutting taxes and creating jobs. Yes, in America, even a poor immigrant from Puerto Rico has a shot at achieving The Dream.
U.S. Representative Charles Rangel (D, NY) did all of the above and, towards the end of an incredible 40-year run in public service, allowed corruption’s evil a seat at his table. When he tearfully faces his accusers and receives the justice they deem appropriate, I hope they take a long look at the system and craft the best elixir for what I believe is, and has forever been, a systemic ailment.
But this problem is nothing new. We’ve heard “power corrupts absolutely” ad nauseam. So what’s the solution? Ah, yes—change! We heard that term from our president during his election until we were sick of it. What did we do? Well—vote him in office, of course. Two years later, have we experienced any real change? Some would argue that the Health Care legislation should certainly quality, but while the incoming congress has assured us its repeal, I’m holding off on its inclusion. What I’m talking about is real change—a fundamental change in the way we think about our country; the way we prioritize importance, justice, politics, health and wealth; the way we conduct business; the way we pay taxes; the way think about transportation; and, most importantly, the way we define change.
Examples? There are many: How about changing the way we write our laws so that passing otherwise good legislature isn’t dependent on the inclusion of wasteful pork or some other extortion? What about uncomplicating our tax code so that the average Joe can understand and pay it without undue burden? Why do we reward actors and athletes with riches and lavish lifestyles while our star teachers can only hope for a pat on the back to go along with their abysmal salaries? Where are our flying cars, bullet trains, and 100mph speed limits? Would you take a comprehensive driver training course if your insurance company gave you a 50% discount? What about ending fifty-year-old embargoes that simply don’t work and trying something else? Election reform? Term limits? Do we really want change or are we simply too chicken to give it a shot?
We once learned to cover great distances without horses. We put electricity to good use. We learned to fly. We cured horrible diseases. We became less smelly. At one time, it seemed, everyone was creative, adventurous, and daring. I thought our civilization had generally ceased innovation unless it could be a calculable profit over a length of time. It wasn’t until the recent gasoline spike that I saw an inkling of our heritage (okay, Richard Branson aside). All at once new designs and original thinking came out of the woodwork—as if it had been there all along just waiting for the occasion. Is that what it takes for progressive change?
Poor Charlie Rangel. He’s endured every ridicule imaginable; from a laughable caricature that seems somewhere between Don Vito Corleone and Mr. Potato Head, to that of the corrupt politician archetype. At the age of 80, no punishment can be worse than everyone forgetting all the good you’ve done in the past and having your legacy ruined. I think many of his peers will be thinking about this when they vote his fate. I think they will be thinking of themselves too, and how their decision might affect how their behavior down the road. But will they be thinking of systemic change? Given the establishment’s history, my guess is “probably not”, but they should be acutely aware that many of us are.
/T
