A Gang of Morons

"The government consists of a gang of men exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with another, no special talent for the business of government; they have only a talent for getting and holding office. Their principal device to that end is to search out groups who pant and pine for something they can't get and to promise to give it to them. Nine times out of ten that promise is worth nothing. The tenth time is made good by looting A to satisfy B. In other words, government is a broker in pillage, and every election is sort of an advance auction sale of stolen goods." -- H.L. Mencken

Henry Louis Mencken (1880–1956), better known as "H.L. Mencken," was a 20th century journalist and social critic, a true cynic and freethinker, known as the "Sage of Baltimore." He wrote for The Baltimore Sun, a once proud journalistic local institution, now just another chainnewspaper with absentee owners.

As a native Marylander myself, (although from the Eastern Shore), I revere Mencken as one of the most influential American writers of the early 20th century. He, from a state that has produced precious few leaders of any kind. (After Francis Scott Key and the Star SpangledBanner, name one; Spiro Agnew?!).

If H.L.'s quote about government ever needed vivid proof, it got oceans of it during the on-going Second Battle of New Orleans. And thanks to24-hour TV mega-coverage, the whole world was watching.

I'm not talking about the heroic efforts of Katrina's front line responders, or the thousand New Orleans police who did not desert (500 did), or the thousands of police, military and volunteers from all over America who have stepped in to do what needs to be done, or the millionswho gave multi-millions of dollars to finance the rescue and recovery.

The Battle to which I refer is the Blame Game; the unending sniping, yelping, excusing, finger pointing, macho, mano a mano battle among the politicians at all levels seeking to escape their responsibility and accuse someone else, anyone else, for the delays and the confusion. (And the last thing we need is another expensive commission to tell us what we already know).

In the last 13 months Florida, where I live, has suffered six hurricanes (including Katrina) and billions of dollars of damage, plus many lost lives. But in each case, as American law requires, STATE and LOCAL governments, including our National Guard, have stepped in and handled pre-storm warnings, mass evacuations, clean up and rebuilding. Yes, FEMA and other federal agencies have come in later and handed out cash and goodies (often to crooks who had no need for it), but Florida, its governor, Jeb Bush, and its cities and counties had plans that workedunder the worst weather conditions, including huge storm water surges.

So why were all those school buses sitting under water in New Orleans as thousands drowned? Why didn't Gov. Blanco call out the Guard when needed? Why didn't Mayor Nagen provide police security at theSuper Dome? And yes, where the Hell was the late arriving FEMA?

The old saying is true; when the government cares, no one cares.

Or put another way, does anyone believe that old saw: "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you."?

In a July 1920 article in the Baltimore Evening Sun, Mencken wrote about the difficulties of good men being elected to political office. He spoke of the day when brainless politicians would triumph with mob support and public offices would be "adorned by downrightmorons".

As H.L. predicted, welcome to New Orleans -- to Louisiana -- and to 21st century America.

That's the way it looks from here.
BOB BAUMAN, Editor

THE SOVEREIGN SOCIETY OFFSHORE A-LETTER
Your Link to Freedom, Privacy & Prosperity in the Offshore World
Thursday, September 8, 2005 - Vol. 7 No. 182

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