PLATONIC OR MORONIC?

Why, that all those mercenary individuals, whom the many call Sophists and whom they deem to be their adversaries, do, in fact, teach nothing but the opinion of the many, that is to say, the opinions of their assemblies; and this is their wisdom.

http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.7.vi.html

We now have legislation that has been passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the Prez so that my SS check for $674.00 will be duly deposited in my free checking account.

The entire piece of legislation is much more complicated than I could ever surmise or relate. Others who would merely imitate Icarus are not at a loss for words so why should my opinion matter anyway?

My interest revolves around this Super Committee!

I am not willing to discuss the ins and outs of this legislation. I have not read the entire file. But this Super Committee intrigued me greatly.

The legal memos reported from the pundit while read on a visual aide do not intrigue me at all. McConnell might continue his obstructionist ways in order to dissolve this Presidency after Boehner has screwed 90% of the public pursuant to some chess game contained in the legislation as well as the chess games already in place in both houses of Congress.

I don't care anymore.

But I am intrigued by a concept described by a Greek almost 2400 years ago. I think we are looking at a challenge to democracy (small d, however all dems are small d's anyhow) and our Republic.

Now everybody already knows that:

The rich 'control' both houses of Congress through bribes; direct or otherwise. You might find some senator's niece appointed to some corporate board. You might find some corporate contributions to some representative's campaign coffers. You might find that some Congressman's business is doing unusually well following a six month period following some recently signed legislation, or here rollcall.

So what's new?

Now everybody knows that:

Some representative might use his knowledge of pending legislation to improve his stock portfolio.

So what's new?

Now everybody knows that:

Legal advice and counsel and representation might await some Congressman's litigious difficulties provided at a 'lower rate'.

Now everybody knows that:

A Congressman might be more interested in funds leading to construction of a bridge that will service only a few in his state and pay countless millions to some bridge builder who might aid in that Congressman's campaign.

And everybody knows that:

Our Representatives are hypocrites!

So everybody knows a lot and everybody knows shite!

Well Plato proposed that people should be governed by Guardians! As well as a philosopher king running the state.

...If then we adhere to our original notion and bear in mind that our guardians, setting aside every other business, are to dedicate themselves wholly to the maintenance of freedom in the State, making this their craft, and engaging in no work which does not bear on this end, they ought not to practice or imitate anything else; if they imitate at all, they should imitate from youth upward only those characters which are suitable to their profession --the courageous, temperate, holy, free, and the like; but they should not depict or be skilful at imitating any kind of illiberality or baseness, lest from imitation they should come to be what they imitate. Did you never observe how imitations, beginning in early youth and continuing far into life, at length grow into habits and become a second nature, affecting body, voice, and mind?
http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.4.iii.html

I mean this has to be a great idea, does it not?

I mean we could be better served by individuals who are numb; numb to profit, numb to personal allegiances, numb to bribes and extortion...

So we currently have 535 legislators; a hundred of which reside in the Upper House. And it is so difficult to find a consensus, since all of our citizens see the universe in a narrow manner.

And we will now have the worst of all possible worlds!

Twelve Guardians shall be selected from our elected officials; these officials shall be subject to all the problems of the rest of our elected representatives.

And we might predict that the repubs will vote upon party lines.

REPUB OR NOT, all those twelve will be suckling off of the corporate teet!