Can you believe he said that?

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If you pay attention and really listen, sometimes you will hear people say things that they probably never meant to say, even though it’s what they truly think. Most of the time, we are so numb because of the information overload that our society here in the US imposes on us, that we don’t even notice these things – they just breeze right on by. But this morning as I was listening to a story about political donations on NPR, they played part of an interview with Mitch McConnell, the Republican senate minority leader, and I heard him say this in answer to the question of whether or not all people and organizations that make political donations should have to identify themselves :

“I don’t think regular citizens should have to experience any political courage at all.”

Wait – what was that? Read it again, with emphasis added by yours truly : “I don’t think regular citizens should have to experience and political courage at all.”

Am I the only one outraged by the condescending tone of this remark? Regular citizens, no courage – I just don’t like the feel of that. And what do you think George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Paul Revere, or any of hundreds of freedom fighters that helped found this country and or fight the British for independence would think of this remark? It almost borders on democratic blasphemy if you ask me. And I don’t care if you are a Republican, Tea Partier, Democrat, Independent, Communist, Libertarian, whatever. The question you have to ask yourself is, do you agree with his statement that none of us “regular citizens” should have to experience any political courage at all? I sure in the hell don’t.

I think that what this comment does so wonderfully is expose the thinking behind the current American political system as a whole, and the beliefs by which we are governed. “They” don’t want any of us to have, or experience any political courage. They want us to just simply accept what we are spoon fed, to pick a side (there are only 2 you know), and then rally behind the ‘leaders’ of that side, believing whatever they spew, and following them blindly down the path to oblivion – or even worse, apathy. No courage – at ALL.

What I think is really funny about it is the fact he used the word “experience.” If he had said “have”, that he doesn’t think any of us need to have any courage at all, that would be one thing. But by stating that he doesn’t think any of us should have to experience any, I take that to mean that he doesn’t think we even need to be EXPOSED to any in our current political system. Indeed!

Well, guess what Mr. McConnnell – I don’t think you need to worry. If there is one thing that none of us have to be concerned about experiencing in this plutocracy, it is political courage. People who do show any amount of courage (like Ross Perot, or Ron Paul, etc), whether you agree with them or not, are simply unable to gather the money or significant numbers of courageous people (people in power) to support them to even have a chance of making it into the “big boys club.” And could it be because those with true political power don’t want any of us “regular citizens” to have to experience any political courage – at all?

For a long time, the ‘veil’ of democracy was hung over our political system, and we all (most of us) believed that we truly had a voice; that if we rose up and spoke our minds as one, courageously, our elected officials would carry our message; that we were a proud, strong and courageous people. But now, we have people like Mr. McConnell making statements like this, right out in the open, no longer even taking the trouble to hide their (by their, I mean those who truly have power right now – the politicians, and even moreso, their bankrollers) low opinions of and disdain for us “regular” citizens. It is a sad state of affairs indeed when they can just come right out and say it, knowing that we are so numb and scared that we won’t do a thing about it. And still, I just can’t believe he said it. Can you?

Link to interview on NPR : http://www.npr.org/2012/06/18/155263978/sen-mcconnell-political-donations-are-free-speech

(referenced comment comes at approx. 3:09 in the interview)