Loyalty
In our society today we see loyalty as a great guiding force. We see it as a dominant force in our
government, in our religions, in family, in our morality, in our dress codes,
in our conspicuous consumption. As a
society it guides our basic values. It
shades our point of view. Most would
contend that this is a good thing. I
would say that it is a fatal flaw.
As I listen to the news each morning I get to witness government
malfunction. We are presently awaiting a
government shutdown brought about by the government itself. Why would a government choose to do itself
and those it is trusted to govern harm?
The answer is ignorance in the name of Party Loyalty. Your chosen representatives don’t vote their
individual mind or morality, they loyally vote with their party. Those who see themselves as independent are
seen as a problem. They often choose not
to fall in line.
When there are rules in our government which cause it not to function …
change and improve the rules. Don’t go
into our “That’s the way it is” mode.
Five to fifteen MAGA House members are presently pulling the strings of
their majority leader to shut down the government. They would not have this irrational power if
not for the fact that the entire body votes for the leader of the Majority and
the Minority Leader. Why should a
Democrat vote to select the Republican Leader and why should a Republican vote
in the selection of the Democratic Leader?
It is the direct cause of requiring 15 votes called for of the House to
elect a Republican leader and the direct cause of his giving up the direction
of his leadership. It is a leader
agreeing not to lead. If you are going
to have a Minority and Majority leader (which itself is not a good idea) then
Democrats should be the only ones voting for the Democratic Leader and
Republicans the only ones voting for the Republican Leader. The result would have been that Kevin
McCarthy would have been elected on the first ballot and our government would
not be closed for business on this Monday.
This is America today, Loyalty over Logic. Other examples of the problem would be: one
senator holding up over three hundred military promotions, a nation calling for
effective gun legislation and a government not responding, Freedom of Choice
vs. Right to Life being converted from a moral issue to a political issue,
climate change problems taken from science to politics and giving a majority
leader the sole power to determine what legislation will be discussed and voted
on. None of these problems being
politicized leads to their cure. A
government that doesn’t reliably function needs to take a look at its rules of operation.
We bring loyalty into our churches and our homes. I have heard “marry and socialize with your
own kind” both from a priest and a rabbi.
I have heard “marry your own kind” from my parents. Loyalty (in the form of prejudice) is applied
to our moral rudder. We will put on a
uniform and shoot a stranger with a different uniform in the name of loyalty. Wars are often entered for the benefit of
capital, not conscience. “I’m a
Democrat.” “I’m a Republican.” “I’m a Christian.” “I’m a Jew.”
“I’m an Atheist.” “I’m
White.” “I’m Black.” “I’m American.” “I’m Canadian.” “I’m a man.”
“I’m a woman.” “I’m a
human.” “They are only plants or
animals.” “I’m a Smith.” “I’m a Thomasson.” How much does each of these loyalties shape
your world view? Might it be a good
thing to see yourself as a part of the All?
Cheers, Old Buz 9/30/2023
Iambloggerbuz.blogspot.com
“The loyalists follow the under tail scent of the
lemmings in front of them.” – Old Buz
