I Don't Have To Tell You Things Are Bad...

"I don't have to tell you things are bad. Everybody knows things are bad..." Peter Finch as Howard Beale in Network (1976)

We all know things are bad. Especially with regard to our government. The people we elected to represent us have betrayed us and sold out for money, power, influence. It seems no one can be trusted. The Consitution is being torn apart, disregarded, even called irrelevant. The very freedoms this country was founded on are being destroyed. More and more people rely on the government for their source of existence. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness are merely empty mantras recited by politicians on the election trail. Corruption is a way of life for many, if not most, in Washington. Yes, things are bad.

Why? What is the cause of this corruption? How did we stray so far from the intent of our founders? Why is it that so many people have lost faith in their government while at the same time relying on it so much? Why is it that things are bad? What is the solution?

Over the past month I have been searching for answers to the question of what the root cause of this corrupt government is. I have a hypothesis, but whether it is correct or not remains to be seen.

My opinion is that government mirrors culture. The personal values of a culture will be reflected in their government. If a culture is moral, their government will be a moral government. If the culture is immoral, the government will be immoral. One of the reasons I came to this conclusion is from observing politicians and watching how their views on government relate to their views on personal morality. The few politicians who lead moral and decent private lives also tend to lead the same type of public life.

Our culture has lost so much as far as common decency. There is no longer right and wrong. It's all a matter of perspective and circumstance. Morality is old fashioned. It's this type of thinking that also creeps into our government. What else would you expect? Would you expect politicians who don't have a personal sense of right and wrong to uphold those concepts in government?

Beyond that, the few people who still believe in right and wrong have become apathetic. Our country may be going to hell in a hand basket, but I'm just one person, what can I do? Apathy is like a leech on the soul, sucking away the vitality of life. To take another phrase from Network, we need to say, "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!" We need to take responsibility for our actions. We need to start with what is wrong in our life and once we get our lives straightened out, then we will be ready to take on anything.



Comments? Agree? Disagree? Think there's more to it? Let me know in the comments.