Donald Trump is right: the game is rigged. But I doubt that he understands how or what to do about it. So long as we have big government and millions of regulations to enforce the spirit of half of the Ten Commandments, the rigging mechanisms will remain intact.
This U.S. presidential election is an
entertaining, but sad
affair. It reminds me a bit of the 1828 race between Andrew
Jackson and incumbent
John Quincy Adams. Adams was big-time establishment and Jackson
was the upstart
who had made a name for himself with his career up to that time.
Jackson didn’t
mind saying what was on his mind, and what was on his mind was
not favorable to
Adams who, in Jackson’s mind, had stolen the 1824 election. In
that election,
Jackson had won both the popular vote and apparently the
electoral college
votes, but then the Speaker of the House met with Adams and went
back to work
on the College. In the end, the College disregarded the election
results and
selected Adams as President. The Speaker became his Secretary of
State, and in
those days, the Secretary of State was the presumptive heir to
the presidential
throne. Presidents typically were Secretary of State first and
later President.
No wonder Jackson was hostile towards Adams. And Adams wasn’t
cozy with Jackson
either. Rigged elections are not new. Neither are rigged
economies. Maybe a
discussion about that next post.
In the meantime, our poor southerly neighbors
are trying to
decide which is the lesser of two evils. It’s too bad Gary
Johnson wasn’t
allowed into the televised debates. Neither the Republicans nor
the Democrats
want outsiders there. That is part of the rigging. And there is
no way anyone
wins that election without being in the debates. Too bad,
because candidate
Johnson seems to offer something better than conniving or
idiocy.
Very interesting comparison. Like Clinton, Adams was closely connected to a former President. Like Trump, Jackson made most of his fortune in real estate (land speculation). Like Trump, Jackson entered politics at an "advanced" age. I also think that there is great potential for Trump to abuse the powers of the presidency (As did Jackson on numerous occasions - especially with regard to the treatment of Native Americans).
ReplyDeleteAs for the game being "rigged," I think that we hold our politicians up to unreasonable standards. As your piece points out, there is a real sense in which the game has always been rigged. Human nature is pretty consistent in this regard (people are always looking for an advantage and are more than willing to exploit any that presents itself). Contrary to what most folks seem to believe, there wasn't any golden age when politicians were more honorable than they are today.
Relative to the Clinton/Trump contest, one could say that the recent action of the Director of the FBI has rigged the game in Trump's favor. Anyway, I hope that the right person triumphs - despite all of the machinations of partisans on both sides!
Miller, I agree that we may look in vain for the era of honor in politics. Not saying that there have never been people of integrity eager to be servant-leaders, but one can be forgiven for thinking that such people are the exception that proves the rule.
DeleteI have been thinking today about that FBI move. I don't see it as any effort to help Trump, but as Director Comey protecting himself from a investigation by a Republican controlled Congress. I mean, if the truth about the Clinton shenanigans was kept under wraps until after the election, and then the scent of what really happened drifted into the House, the Republicans there would be hunting for FBI blood. I think there's deeper ramifications to this, and perhaps I shall remark on them in a post tomorrow.
I don't see the right person triumphing. He wasn't in the debates. Trump will be the more entertaining winner, but I believe that even though he may know a thing or more about business, he does not understand economics and what makes for prosperity.
Thanks for your comments.