The rhymes of our times

It’s the 50th anniversary of Alaska statehood and the 233rd anniversary of our nation’s birth. It’s sad that only 40 percent of our political heritage is being truly respected and applied by our state government and only 25 percent by our federal government. An elected aristocracy fronting for a lobbied bureaucracy — that bribes or appeases population factions — has mostly replaced authentic representative government controlled by citizen-enforced constitutions and charters. Faithful public servants degrade themselves trying to cope. Citizen apathy is encouraged. This not said simply enough? Try these wordings.

• Sara P., Sara P., quite contrary, why can’t state ethics grow? Proud ignorance or pseudo-knowledge feeds corruption, you know.

• “Jacks” and “Jills” come to state halls to serve each fellow Alaskan. But they’re lobbied to rule, letting the selfish due, to get the most for the askin’.

• Most government officials try to give service. Political tradition causes them to miss. Political heritage shows the better way. But too many officials don’t let this hold sway.

• Legislators don’t have much fun. Legislators can’t get things done. They get stuck with lobbyists and experts — not knowing how representation works. Then they blame the left, or they blame the right, so they can make agreements out of sight. All the state’s people and all the state’s laws just can’t get past these political flaws.

• Lawmaker, lawmaker — I have something to say. Give me real attention. You’ll get some help that way. Lawmaker, lawmaker — how do you represent? Do you harvest ideas or act as an agent? Lawmaker, lawmaker — give people’s minds a try. Thousands of minds working will make lobbying die. Lawmaker, lawmaker — here’s what you need to do. Organize citizens so they research for you. Lawmaker, lawmaker — all futures will condemn … when laws are created for people, not by them.

• People are little “lambs” — our minds made white as snow. Wherever experts point we are all made to go. Government that just gives and people who just get, makes us all dependent — lost freedom to regret. We are all a little dumb — this is often plain to see. But things we learn about, we can help bring to be. So really let us know our duties and powers. Then let us contribute so true success flowers.

• What’s in Capitol buildings? Fe. Fi. Fo. Fum. I see some elected noblemen. Be they true, or be they bent. They appease more than they represent. Fe. Fi. Fo. Fum. I see lobby men and women. Be they false, or be they true. They replace what the people should do.

• Authentic juries don’t accept force-fed reason. Lawyers and judges see this as legal treason. Authentic juries judge the laws not just the facts. Lawyers and judges won’t see the justice this backs. Authentic juries often see more of what’s just. Lawyers and judges alone can’t deserve our trust.

• Ethics lapses in government, born of temptations from power. Like bailing water with sieves, fixing some lets others flower. Remedies already exist, but are not used or are denied. In books or on the Internet — there are where these ideas abide. People can’t maintain their ethics without learning things from the past. It’s people refusing to learn that brings corruption that will last.

• Oh enie, meanie, minie, moe. Catch a lawmaker by the toe. Look at what he’s really doing — not at talk that’s always fooling. He is supposed to represent, yet acts as a hired agent. Using public will is his job. Yet he rules people as a mob. He uses greed and hype with no pain, since appeased people won’t complain. Government becomes appeasement, instead of what the Founders meant.

• Lawmakers have gone lazy — they rule and don’t lead. It’s why whim or prejudice is all that they heed. They pander to selfishness so money is key. Fruits of people’s minds aren’t used so reason can’t be. They need lots of lobbyists to get ruling done. There’s no time for leadership, so that’s what they shun.

• Lawmakers, deal makers — they are near. Oath breakers, rule breakers — sense them sneer. Money beggars, power beggars — watch them strut. Care fakers, truth fakers — see their smut. Bribed people, bullied people — here and there. Betrayed people, ignored people — everywhere. Leadership, government — under par. Ignorance, prejudice — gone too far.

• Oh so willing are public lawmakers. But so sorry as leaders they’re fakers. They strut and pose to impress the people. They just listen to make people “sheeple.” Just they know best from what top experts say. This makes them rule — lobbyists then hold sway. Clueless leaders can’t make their people think. Thoughtless people makes society sink. Our officials — they try to serve but don’t. Our heritage — use all of it they won’t.

Defend this: “Liberty forever!” – John Adams

Stuart Thompson, a resident of Wasilla, is on an odyssey of citizenship and “Pledge of Allegiance” keeping until he dies.