Washington: Politicians thrive like parasites in the perfidious stench of egotism, affluence, malfeasance, criminality, and hegemony that engulfs any government
Access to money and power leaves few men uncorrupted. Consider the perpetual panoply of political prevaricators who prance before voters when elections are in the offing, describing themselves as dutiful doers of the people’s will. Lexicographer Samuel Johnson more accurately described them as “unnumber’d suppliants” who “crowd Preferment’s gate, athirst for wealth, burning to be great….”
The electorate listens to their vows not to resort to the “same old politics,” and chooses the most accomplished liars, who, upon arriving in Washington, immediately contract amnesia that blots out all campaign promises, and thrive like parasites in the perfidious stench of egotism, affluence, malfeasance, criminality, and hegemony that engulfs any government.
Favorite sons and daughters, aglow with virtuosity when they bid their supporters farewell, go the way of all flesh, and focus not on what is good for the people, but on prostituting themselves to special interest groups and to doing whatever must be done to remain in office, looking forward all the while to opulent retirement in which they will bask in benefits that the folks who voted for them can only dream about.
They have much in common with Old Testament character Rehoboam. The word that best describes him, best describes this modern, mendacious menagerie of money-grubbers: arrogance. Despite the fact that he descended from royal lineage — the grandson and son of two famous monarchs, David and Solomon — King Rehoboam of Judah reigned in a way that would do justice to any politician’s pedigree.
Rehoboam worshipped money and power. When the people asked him not to overburden them with taxes, as did his father, he consulted the young, reckless friends of his youth and chose their advice. Instead of serving as a just leader whose first obligation should have been preserving and promoting the welfare of his subjects, he responded to the people’s pleas in a way that politicians of any era would admire:
“Whereas my father laid upon you a heavy yoke, so shall I add tenfold thereto. Whereas my father chastised you with whips, so shall I chastise you with scorpions … your backs, which bent like reeds at my father’s touch, shall break like straws at my own touch.”
Apparently, folks back then — unlike modern folks — didn’t tolerate being pushed around by their leaders. Seeking justice, the ten northern tribes rebelled, and no longer paid allegiance to Rehoboam. As a consequence, he was in a constant state of war with these tribes for the rest of his reign.
But justice, the ultimate arbiter, didn’t stop there. Realizing Rehoboam’s kingdom was in disarray, Egyptian Pharaoh Shishak invaded with a huge army, and laid siege to Jerusalem. The wealth and power of Solomon’s son vanished. He surrendered all the treasures laid up in the temple, and Judah became a vassal state of Egypt.
As President Harry Truman once said, “Justice remains the greatest power on earth. To that tremendous power alone will we submit.”
This was true in Old Testament times; it is true now: Justice will be served.
Jimmy Reed is an Oxford, Mississippi resident, Ole Miss and Delta State University alumnus, Vietnam Era Army Veteran, former Mississippi Delta cotton farmer and ginner, author, and retired college teacher.
This story is a selection from Jimmy Reed’s latest book, entitled The Jaybird Tales.
Copies, including personalized autographs, can be reserved by notifying the author via email (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)).
