OUR FREEDOMS - RIP

The Story of Jack and Jill

By Charlie Crumley July 2010

                (1)
Jack and Jill went up to the Hill,
To fetch a pail of money,
But when they got there,
The Cupboard was bare,
And that is the end of the story.
          echo (Not likely).

                (2)
But Jack and Jill weren't satisfied,
And demanded to know precisely "WHY",
Because those we elected spent it all,
Said a Cupboard Guard standing by,
WE are the reason WHY.
         (Who, me?).

                (3)
Once elected we left them to rule,
To rule as they saw fit,
When the cats away the mice will play,
But I am sure you know that old bit.
         (I am shocked!).

Political Maxim - Always be sincere, whether
         you mean it or not.

                (4)
There is a fundamental flaw in a democracy,
said the Guard,
It's the catchy "one person, one vote",
Being elected involves using the cupboard key,
And then to give away the most.
         (If you rob Peter to pay Paul,
         Paul will always be your friend).

                (5)
In due course the Paul's, et al's,
Become regulars in the budgetary process,
And pork goes over well with the homefolks,
As it keeps them distracted from freedoms key.

         (What key?).

                (6)
Our Constitution calls for a periodic report to the citizens,
As to the Receipts and Expenditures of Public Funds,
From George to George, Washington to Bush, that is,
This has never been done,
So we are driving this ship of state of ours,
Through a sea of financial ignorance.
         (In spite of their oaths to support the Constitution).
         (We need a Sarbane Oxley for government).

                (7)
Galileo warned us over 400 years ago,
That if we didn't know and understand the numbers,
We would be wandering around in a very dark labyrinth,
Without a smidgen of an idea as to what is going on around us.
Except that the opportunity for fiscal mischief is sky high.
         (If we don't know what we are doing,
         how can we tell when we are done).

                (8)
Current guestimates of the National Debt,
Is in the range of $50,000 to $60,000 for each, Each man, woman, and child,
For the 300 million of us-
And is growing at a rate faster than we can earn it.
         (In bull fighting parlance,
         this is what is called an "El Groino").

                (9)
We are spiraling ourselves deeper and deeper in debt,
But that is for future generations to solve,
As we will be long gone to the hereafter,
Expecting to be remembered fondly.
         (Fat chance).

                (10)
Most folks can't be bothered by any of this,
And are happy with their self-interest and ostrich like view,
Thinking what they don't see can't hurt them,
But it is already hurting, and will be hurting much more,
As the labyrinth enfolds us.
         (The cupboard itself could be gone).

                (11)
A Freedom based government requires,
That "The People" be at the top of the heap,
With the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial officials,
All being servants to the will of that heap.
         (A Constitutional dream)?

                (12)
For the heap to be" WE THE PEOPLE",
Only the people can make it be so,
Our citizenry is very pluralistic,
With many differing points of view,
But if freedom has any chance to exist,
Then there must be mutual respect and mutual interest,
For freedom will never be,
If you are only for you, and I am only for me.
         (Step One).

                (13)
WE THE PEOPLE must learn to speak with one voice,
So our representatives can know how to represent us,
The Founding Fathers gave us the basis for the voice,
And left it up to us to finish it.
         (Step Two).

                (14)
Instead of the classical sovereign structure,
With everyone subordinate to the sovereigns will,
Our founders wanted us to be free of all sovereigns,
Which is the only way FREEDOMS can be.
To do this they flip/flopped the classical structure,
And made WE THE PEOPLE the sovereign instead.
         (If we could learn to work together).

                (15)
Thus far we have failed to use any way,
For "WE" to speak with one voice,
What we have today,
Ranges from apathy to mutiny,
With political parties fanning the flames of discord,
And a growing lack of respect for anyone not sharing our views,
It is unlikely that we can create a one voice,
And more likely that our inanimate government,
Will continue to evolve into being our sovereign,
With "WE" increasingly subject to it's will.
         (Yuck)

                (16)
With the Guard's words duly noted,
Jack turned to exit the Hill,
Slipping on a pile of empty money wrappers,
Jack fell down and broke his non-royal crown,
And Jill came tumbling after.
         (It's been a bad day).

                (17)
But not to worry,
They can always use Medicaid.
          (If broken crowns are covered, and a
          Doctor can be found that will take them
          as patients).

                (18)
If it is iambic pentameter you were looking for,
You are not going to find it here,
This writing is in a Semi/ Rap/Rhyme style,
Where seldom is heard,
An encouraging Rhyming word,
And everything is stormy all day.
          (In the words of the eminent philosopher POGO,
          "we have found the enemy, and it is us").

                (19)
         (Epilogue)
Living is too serious to be taken too seriously,
But life is too precious to waste,
So at least follow the Golden Rule, and Be Nice.
Always Be Nice - AND MEAN IT !
         (It could be a beginning).

         Finis