The Power of the Purse, or, Politicians Padding Their Purse
The Old Shell Game: A Political Art of Duping the Masses
Ah, politics. It's where our trustworthy elected officials slap a fresh coat of paint on the same old pile of empty promises and try to sell it to us as "change" - as if we can't smell it. But who are they trying to trick? Oh, wait… it’s us. Yes, you, me, and everyone who happens to own a television, computer, or cell phone. For starters, we can’t be missing too many people there in 2024, and boy, are we in for a show this month.
A New Day, Same Old Charlatans
The Charlatan Politician is a curious phenomenon. They regurgitate the same worn-out promises, only with a different label. They manage to convince entire swaths of the population that they're totally different from the last guy or gal who by no surprise was a disappointment to everyone. They must think we, the regular ol' American public, are about as sharp as a butter knife.
Politicians, a.k.a. Masters of the Disappearing Act
Politicians vanish the second someone asks a question they don't like, and avoid any accountability with finesse. Have you ever watched two politicians from opposite coasts say the same thing on different news channels? You can practically hear the fax machine whirring to life as the party handlers send out the talking points du jour. Of course, when they find themselves in an uncomfortable situation, they no longer rely on spinning the truth, but instead resort to spreading disinformation by attributing anything contradicting their original narrative as misinformation.
Where is the money going?
They're not getting anything done, abusing free speech, and their cookie-cutter responses are like a bad episode of "Westworld". They have an agenda that is only adjusted when polling reflects poorly because it’s always about getting and retaining power. This is why the media serves to hold politicians accountable, and when they don’t, why would either party care about you or anybody’s real-world problems?
California has spent around $24 billion on homelessness in the past five years; yet, the total homeless population rose by ~20% to exceed 181,000, which amounts to $160,000 per person.
Similar to the funds allocated for addressing homelessness in California (when asked they couldn’t account for how a single dollar was spent), OUR tax dollars vanish faster than the politicians themselves. When there's no accountability and widespread complacency, particularly within the government, we end up with what we vote for— indifference towards money. If you treated capital at work the way bureaucrats and the political elite treat OUR tax dollars, would you still have a job today? No, you wouldn't. No private company would last more than a month before filing for bankruptcy, and you wouldn’t make it to Friday in your first week.
Wake Up, America (Put Down the Kool-Aid)
Critical thinking is not illegal, but many Americans will defend their chosen political demigod like a rabid sports fan whose team just got a bad call. These politicians need to earn your vote. They do not get a free pass because they slapped a “D” or “R” next to their name. I mean, come on. Do we want to hand the keys to the kingdom to someone just because they managed to win a primary? Oh wait, I guess that one may not even be a prerequisite anymore.
Is Accountability That Rare Today?
We need to stop the mindless partisanship and start holding these people accountable for what they promised to do. This is not some revolutionary thought, after all, they work for us—the American people. It is not the other way around. You may hear that tired word, ‘accountable’ or ‘engagement’ used all the time by people questioning government waste, and it’s exhausting. There is plenty you can do without feeling like you’re breaking your back, and know you’re engaging in our Democratic Republic.
You can take a step in this direction today by simply paying attention, stopping trusting everything heard on TV, consuming information from ideologically diverse media, and looking into what doesn’t add up. Also, do not take your vote for granted and make your way to the ballot box; moreover, encourage friends and family to do the same. These suggestions could help prevent basement campaigns like Biden's in 2020 and the 2024 coup that brought Kamala front and center. If we accept disinformation without doing our research, as was the case with the Hunter Biden laptop in 2020, we are once again playing into the hands of the political elite. This has led to the pain and heartache we've experienced since January 2021.
The First Woman President Can’t Just Be Any Woman
The irony of supporting a woman who is anxious about interviews—even with friendly reporters—and feels insecure about being a serious contender for the presidency is scary. I specifically chose to use the term "woman" instead of "person" for a reason. The world does not always show the same level of respect for women as we do here. Therefore, if we are considering a woman to lead our national security, foreign interests, and military, and to take a strong stance in negotiations with leaders like Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, it cannot be just any woman.
They will have preconceived notions about dealing with a female Commander-in-Chief. Let's not fool ourselves into thinking they are not paying attention to the current election. This is extremely important, and for the ideal woman to assume the role of the American Presidency - something I would love to see - it has to be the right woman, not just someone who believes she can easily handle the complexities of international affairs. Let’s not get started with how that would be perceived in the Middle East or in any attempt to quell peace in the Israeli conflict.
Instead of engaging openly, she often avoids reporters, pretending we can’t see her as she hides behind her campaign staff as if she’s not standing right in front of us. Yet, she is supposed to be fit to be President? Unfortunately, we've become so desensitized to this type of performance that we hardly notice it anymore. Or, the media acts like a bunch of rabid dogs when she finally agrees to do biased interviews with Howard Stern or Alex Cooper. It’s like continuing to watch a bad rerun because we’re too lazy to change the channel.
The Real Swindle: Enriching Themselves, Not Us
Let’s pull back the curtain for a second, shall we? These politicians, who claim to care about your interests, enrich themselves with every handshake and backroom deal. Their decisions are almost always based on what's best for their wallets. Well, to be fair, it may also be for the folks who helped fund their last campaign, but you and I are not their priority. Ah, Democracy at its finest.
It’s All About Family, kind of like the Mafia
Just like the Mafia, it's about Family, you send your son overseas (not in the military) to serve on the boards of energy companies in foreign countries, and then have your son pay your bills and it's like magic, right? But here's the truth: this political trickery is as real as gold bars and cash. It’s important to remember that we aren’t dealing with complete idiots, and that goes for “Gold Bar Bob” as well.
I think Senator Menendez and President Biden have such a heightened level of arrogance and belief that they deserve it. Oftentimes as well, those who are bequeathing Capitol Hill with its additional capital don’t want a trail leading back to them either. The media spin is a part of the protection efforts, I mean what does regular Joe Biden from Scranton, known as the “poorest member of Congress” do with over 20 shell companies and all of his family tied into political money-making they have no business being involved in? Yet, the media protects this overwhelming evidence, and for what reason? They are so bitterly partisan and have the presence of mind to help with creating shells of protection in this old shell game.
It’s not illegal by any means to be getting a return from your time in public office; however, you typically see those who don’t enter office with wealth focusing much of their efforts and restraint based on the corporate boards they can be asked to sit on after leaving office. All the while as they focus on their own pockets and seem to all skate by without even worrying that there could be repercussions — I mean wouldn’t you love to know Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul’s investment strategy, as he tripled the performance of the S&P 500 in 2023. The power of the purse is more like padding their purse.
Rules for Thee, but not for Me
But here’s where it gets good: the truth is this type of political trickery is akin to having somebody spit in your face, then kick you in the balls, followed by a slap across the face; and then be told, “We’re all good, right?” They’ve convinced us to shrug and accept it as if this is the best we can do. Meanwhile, they’re out there trading favors like they’re at a high-stakes poker game, all while we foot the bill.
North Carolinians are left without help because lawmakers water down or kill big bills, raid funds allocated for FEMA, and espouse how existential climate change is while ignoring those who have paid taxes their entire lives. Don’t worry though, we can spend $150 Billion a year on illegal immigrants or $175 Billion over two years for war in Ukraine. Someone, somewhere, called in a favor, and, surprise, it wasn’t you.
The Hidden Agenda, Always Looming
Politicians have a hidden agenda, but instead of admitting it, they pretend to be pure and above reproach. They’re fighting the good fight, but the only battle they’re fighting is to keep their cushy jobs and lifetime benefits. It’s amazing to see lifelong government employees who live in multi-million dollar mansions and mysteriously grow their wealth while in office. It’s like watching someone claim they’ve been on a diet; simultaneously, hiding a pile of Twinkie wrappers under the couch.
The irony is they’d have us believe they're out there on the frontlines, battling the evil forces of the other side, while we’re supposed to sit back, nod, and thank them for their service. They want to be treated as combat veterans that deserve said appreciation from the public. Well, the benefits and pensions they receive as a result are better than those who are our best and bravest and let their power go to their head. Those backroom deals where they are tossing around language and 10, 11, 12, and 13-figure dollar amounts, of our money, and doing so like it is there's. I’m sure those meetings end with promises too big for them to fill, and that's when you see activity that starts to get into the shady zone.
Forget Politicians, You’re Just Voting for a Salesperson
The true hidden agenda is to do whatever it takes to get elected, no matter how shallow or deceitful the path may be. It’s the oldest political trick in the book—play the game, win the power, and let the promises fall where they may. For politicians like Kamala Harris, it’s all about packaging and repackaging herself into whatever version the handlers decide will sell best to the public. The substance? Irrelevant. Securing votes is all that matters, even if it means pandering to identity politics, abandoning any semblance of authenticity, or skirting the tough questions altogether.
What’s worse is the media collusion with her team to forge a “campaign of joy”. A study by the Media Research Center shows since the Harris coup to become the Democratic nominee, coverage by CBS, NBC, and ABC has been 89% negative for Trump and 84% positive for Kamala. ABC specifically showed 100% positive for Kamala and 93% negative for Trump. Did they forget how much the media and DNC was trying to push for somebody else based on both her terrible performance as the current Vice President and how she had the worst approval ratings of all time?
It’s not about serving the people; it’s about climbing the political ladder and doing whatever mental gymnastics necessary to keep the façade intact. At the end of the day, voters aren’t seen as individuals with voices—they’re seen as the means to an end, a stepping stone toward self-aggrandizement and personal gain. The façade of "public service" hides what goes on behind the curtain: political expediency wrapped in disingenuous charm.
The Test: Trust but Verify (Or Just Verify, Actually)
Next time you're tempted to defend your favorite politician, ask yourself where you got that information. Was it from a credible news source or the echo chamber of whatever political fandom you subscribe to? It might not hold up under scrutiny.
Think back to when Congress impeached President Trump over asking a newly elected President Zelinsky of Ukraine, somebody who was voted in on an anti-corruption populist platform, about looking into shady dealings of the past. I mean, just like they tried to do with Trump upon winning the election in 2016 with the Russian Collusion Hoax, something the media has never retracted to date, there seems to be a coincidence of accusing others of what these corrupt actors are doing themselves.
The truth requires asking the following question: how scary would it be to have somebody compromised in The White House? Oh wait, it seems that is our current reality. They never give up and know the power of propaganda —heck there is a Wikipedia page titled “Biden-Ukraine Conspiracy Theory”. Do not think the media is off the hook here.
Back to the Russia Collusion Hoax, we saw New York Times and Washington Post reporters win Pulitzer Prizes for what has now been debunked. Journalistic integrity has been lost, otherwise, you would think they would return awards bestowed to their reporters for what has turned out to be false reporting, clearly performed without proper fact-checking.
We used to rely on journalists to keep the powerful in check, but media outlets like CBS, NBC, and ABC are just as corrupt as the politicians they're supposed to hold accountable. They have their agendas and are indoctrinated into a belief that they too are crusaders saving America. It’s not unknown to them the difficulty of removing information once you inject it into the ecosystem. When even the watchdogs have fleas, you know the system’s in trouble.
The Moral of the Story (There Is None, Really)
Politicians who think of themselves as celebrities and crave time on Fox News or CNN are bad, but what's worse is having a member of Congress representing your district whose name you only know because you vote for them. The takeaway from all this is to stop trusting politicians because they'll tell you whatever you want to hear to get your vote. This will occur just long enough to grab your vote before vanishing into the haze of political convenience.
During their campaigns, they will speak across the gambit of issues as if they are the next populist crusader; yet, once in office, they will vote along party lines and consider sponsoring legislation to rename Post Offices as earning their salary. Meanwhile, you're left scratching your head, wondering why everything feels eerily similar to that last election—or the one before that, and the one before that.
Trump Derangement Syndrome (T.D.S.)
The game is rigged, the players are corrupt, and the rest of us are left to deal with the fallout of skyrocketing inflation, the threat of foreign wars, or watching our hard-earned tax dollars go toward funding political theater. For all of you continuing to lie to yourselves, suffering from T.D.S., there's a cold reality you're not ready to face.
You’ve wrapped yourself in the cocoon of partisan echo chambers, convinced that every political misstep must be traced back to one man while ignoring the dumpster fire blazing in the background. Maybe it's because you live in an enclave that allows you to stay comfortably detached from the chaos most Americans face. Or perhaps you’ve just been lucky enough to date, skating by in a world where you can afford to ignore the inconvenient truths.
Luck runs out, the bubble will burst, and when it does, you will realize the whole system is broken, and the real problem has always been hiding in plain sight. The question is, will you still be blaming Trump for it?
Please Look in the Mirror!
If much of this feels familiar, and what I would hope you see as being far too familiar, you should take a moment to look in the mirror and realize that the new and modern Democrat Party doesn't just dislike America, they actively hate it. They genuinely want to see it burnt to the ground so they can rebuild the nation from scratch. Grab your popcorn, because as everything burns down in Rome 2.0, the show must go on.