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I, for one, am not buying into the "House of Cards" view of the world or it's view of Washington, DC. The fact that the tracks were laid down for this show in the UK should tell us something. They, on and near the Continent, are much more advanced at cynicism about politics and politicians than we are. They have had a few more hundred years to get that way than we have had. It is our ideals, and our idealistic Constitution, that save us. We believe in the innate goodness and worthiness of people and democracy because, for one thing, we planted democracy here with great hope. Plus, we don't have a true "upper house" of unelected "Lords" like they do in England, although the Senate tends to be a rich man's and rich woman's point of access to power.
Somewhere between the earnest pleadings for decency and democracy in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and the base cynicism of "House of Cards", the truth lies. During the decades I have stood near and around these seats of power, both as a reporter in the thick of trying to find the truth and as an outside observer, many truly awful things have happened. Most of the truly awful things are followed by worst things that I never imagined possible. Yet, some of the very worst are just ordinary, every day betrayals, like lying. Those don't make for good video drama, or if they do, the drama would be played out quickly.
Most people who come to DC come with their personal idealism largely intact. However much they want to climb the ladders of power, most people understand they can't get away with crazy stupid things, at least not for long. (As for the new class of tea party Republicans, well, all bets are off there.) To a major degree, what the public sees of what happens here is a contrived show for public consumption. That doesn't make it evil, nor necessarily does the show represent falsity in all cases.
There are a lot of people who are trying hard to do the right thing for the public and voters. Really. No joke. Most of them spend their lives in that effort and do not get rich (they live comfortably on govt. salaries, especially if both husband and wife work) and get no notice or big reward other than a decent pension. Cynicism drives down our belief that anything good is possible and increases the chance that many things bad will go on and on. It makes us willing, compliant victims.
Doug Terry, 2.19.20
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