Blessed Are The Lawnmakers (CTG)

[ChrisGeorge]

Blessed Are The Lawnmakers
(Dedicated to Senator Grassley of Iowa)

Every politician on the stump
(tree stump, that is) promises
much. They speak of high ideals,
gaze toward the purple horizon
and survey the lordly forest.

When they reach the Capitol
in Washington, they mutate
into Lawnmakers: bugs lost
among the blades of grass
unable to see the trees.

Christopher T. George

[kevin]

Nice one Chris.

Politicians always tell us what they would do if elected.
Then once elected, they can't see the would for the trees!

[dazza]

Very good Chris,

A politician giving an honest answer, to an honest question...is as simple as nailing Jelly to the wall!

[ChrisGeorge]

Ha ha, thanks, dazza and Kevin.

Writer Edgar Allan Poe is usually regarded as a morose character not known for his sense of humor, but he wrote a humorous truism here: "I can see no objection to gentlemen 'standing for Congress' ? provided they stand on one side ? nor to their 'running for Congress' ? if they are in a very great hurry to get there ? but it would be a blessing if some of them could be persuaded into sitting still, for Congress, after they arrive."

C

[jobee]

Nice one Chris.

Politicians always tell us what they would do if elected.
Then once elected, they can't see the would for the trees!

Kev, how do you think we could change all that?

[Ged]

Keep the jelly frozen perhaps.

[kevin]

Kev, how do you think we could change all that?

People have always told us what they think we wish to hear in order to get elected. Sad, but can't see that ever changing.

[dazza]

Keep the jelly frozen perhaps.

That could be a politician's answer? Never thought of that. I'll have to review my method of fixing now.

[ChrisGeorge]

People have always told us what they think we wish to hear in order to get elected. Sad, but can't see that ever changing.

The way of the world, I am afraid. Though I am an Obama supporter and believe he is doing a decent job in a difficult situation, there is considerable disappointment here among those who supported him that he has not delivered the "Change" that his campaign promised.

Examples are 1) that the health care bill now in Congress and hopefully about to be passed within the next few weeks once the Senate and House of Representatives reach agreement is a much watered down version and not the comprehensive coverage with a public option to keep the insurance companies honest; 2) that many "sweetheart" deals were struck between lawmakers (preferential treatment for local districts) to get the votes needed to get the health bill this far; 3) that the insurance industry lobbyists were able to funnel millions of dollars to sympathetic Congressmen to either defeat or modify the bill. All this bespeaks the Washington of traditional backroom politics not the open, above board government Obama promised, so there is considerable disaffection with Obama among left wingers.

Another thing is that Obama's style of dealing with world politics in many ways is an extension of the Bush approach, e.g., keeping U.S. troops in Iraq and ramping up the war in Afghanistan.

Chris

[dazza]

Well Chris, people wanted to believe in change, and 'change' in an instant.

Are we not expecting a supertanker to change course, as quickly as a yacht? It doesn't matter who's at the helm, it is what it is? People should measure their expectations a bit more carefully, as to the likelihood of success, or failure....or even worse, compromise, as is the case with the US healthcare plan.

Then again just because someone sells you a ticket, doesn't mean you're going to like the ride, or even the destination, for that matter? Seems to be the case with Obama there? So, I can't really blame the people for feeling angry.

We have David Cameron on this side of the pond, bending over backwards with promises.......unfortunately they're all invertebrate ideas of a kind, and can't walk [or swim] very far.

[pablo42]

Nice one Chris.