DEM BONES or CONNECTING THE DOTS

DEM BONES

KNEE BONE CONNECTED TO THE THIGH BONE

or

CONNECTING THE DOTS

(Admittedly oversimplified)

A woman who's been active in community affairs and local politics decides to run for congress. She's principled and altruistic. Her friends and associates gather round in support. Her husband, a local, moderately successful, business man, and her three children, ages 17-22, are enthusiastic. She's energetic and, with lots of help manages to qualify for the A-Party primary.

The state's party chairman takes notice and, in confab with his cronies, decides she just might be able to knock off the B-Party incumbent of the past ten years. Her education begins. He tells her it will take around $3M to run a successful campaign. He arranges some meetings and appearances. She begins to get the message but convinces herself that, once she's in, she will be her own person and pursue her dream. She wins the primary, accepts some money without making hard commitments, and starts her campaign.

The incumbent seems to have unlimited funds and bedevils her with a barrage of negative advertising. She finds herself constantly on the defensive--she needs more money. But now, potential donors want some hard-ass commitments. She waffles but she can't stomach the thought of letting the other guy win.

Finally, it's over, she wins and goes to DC determined to stick to her principles. On her first day, she attends a meeting; the party leader explains the rules. Committee assignments, TV appearances, help with reelection? "Here's how it works. You can sit and look out the window for two years or you can play the game." How can she let down all those people who helped her get there? She'll go along and look for a chance to do some good.

Two days later, as the next election campaign begins, she understands that, either she plays the game with enthusiasm, or her opponent will get the big bucks that should have come to her.

NOTE: This system is thoroughly entrenched. It predates 'Citizens United' and must be uprooted over the fierce resistance of its beneficiaries.

YOUR CHOICE: Help Lessig (the only game in town) or just keep complaining. And, of course, don't forget to vote for the crook of your choice come November.

MEANWHILE: It's unrealistic to expect across the aisle cooperation or compromise for the sake of the country. Attack, attack, it's what the paymasters (and the media) want, and, for those skilled in the art, it works.

Joe Bakewell
http://joebakewell.wordpress.com 
Lawrence Lessig: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Lessig 
Rootstrikers: http://www.rootstrikers.org/#!/