The Power of Reid, McConnell, Boehner, and Pelosi

Power and Democracy 111:  Committees and Chairmen

In order to get power and retain it, it is necessary to love power; but love of power is not connected with goodness but with qualities that are the opposite of goodness, such as pride, cunning, and cruelty. – Leo Tolstoy

The Majority Leader of the Senate, The Speaker of the House, Chairmen and many more have been loyal party members and have expended great energy to obtain their positions of power.  Constantly, they use their positions of power to coerce members of their party to be loyal and dutiful.

 

The Power of Reid, McConnell, Boehner, and Pelosi

Tax increases and spending cuts will most likely be decided by Reid, McConnell, Boehner and Pelosi.  Americans and the people in the world will be affected.  What gives these four people this level of enormous power?

America’s political structure and the politicians’ lust for power cedes power to the party’s leaders – Democrats and Republicans.  Initially, these “leaders” sought to be elected to Congress, which usually requires tacit obedience to their party’s hierarchy, which in return provides money and tactical support.  Once elected, they became a loyal party member.  Only through party obedience can a Member of Congress advance their projects. 

Through longevity and obedience Reid, McConnell, Boehner and Pelosi became part of their party’s hierarchy.   Then, finally, to be elected caucus leaders usually involves raising giant sums of money for their party. 

However, to become an effective leader requires communication skills as well as tactical knowledge and ruthless punishment against non-compliant Members.  Today, with the debt ceiling approaching, these “leaders” are employing all their tactical skills and communication abilities to convince the public of the righteousness of their party’s positions.  All party leaders are ruthlessly demanding their caucus members vote for their plan.

Resultantly, the public hears about, taxing the rich, corporate jets, families not living within their means, and shared sacrifice.

What Americans have not heard: 

Is the debt dangerous? (Yes, it is.)
What is the best means to reduce the debt? 
(Reduce spending and reform entitlement.  See The Right Way to Balance the Budget – a review of Alberto Alesina and Silvia Ardagna of Harvard research and an American Enterprise Institute study -AEI).  

Why is this not discussed?  Reid, McConnell, Boehner and Pelosi probably have never heard of these Harvard professors or have knowledge of the AEI study.  No, they are playing the game that got them to their positions of power.  Foremost to these four politicians is winning the next election, which includes obtaining the majority in House and Senate, and winning the Presidency for their party. 

Obtaining power is their goal.  Good policy is irrelevant. 

Is this too harsh?  No. 

These four “leaders” had influential positions of power and were complicit participants when Bush II and Obama willfully expanded the debt.

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