NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — As the campaign season builds - does it really ever end? - and citizens are again urged to lend their support to one or more of the candidates for office, I’d like to pose a somewhat rhetorical question: What do politicians and dog owners have in common?
Now that may sound like a funny question to ask, but there is a similarity. Let me explain.
You see, I once had a dog that would do just about anything for a treat. In fact, sometimes he’d come up and start doing his routine of tricks without even being asked in the apparent hope that Mrs. Griz or I would reward him with a dog bone or two.
I’ve also observed that a dog will be loyal to his master, even if that master is less than humane and sometimes downright cruel, as long as the master will buttoss him a bone every now and then to keep the poor beast happy.
And, yes, sometimes even a faithful Fido can be luredaway from his rightful owners by a complete stranger with nothing but a tasty bone!
So, what does this have to do with politicians? Well, while there are, no doubt, some politicians out there who are genuinely dog lovers, there are a lot of politicians who are pretty worthless and self-serving. They don’t really do what’s good for their constituents, and they don’t seem to worry about the long-term results of their actions. They get elected and head off to the state house or to Washington and vote for all sorts of things that may further their career in politics but will also be hurtful to the people they are supposed to represent.
And then, to keep their constituents happy and quiet, they’ll toss them a bone now and then and pass a bill that promises some new benefit.
It doesn’t seem to matter if the legislation hurts the nation or oversteps constitutional bounds - atleast, not as long as it brings immediate but temporary appeasement to the constituents and keeps the politician in good graces come election time.
The sad thing is that it works. Politicians can oppose and stand in the way of all that is good and right and support just about every bill that will lead the nation to ruin, but people will still support them if they promise prosperity, government money and programs, and better paying jobs.
Politicians make flowery promises; and their constituents, like a dog that has just been tossed a bone that his master has already stripped bare, rashly go to the polls and elect them into office - again and again - saying, “That’s our man.”
Don’t you see the similarity? It's not about what's good for America but what will work to gain power andget a few more bones tossed our way. If the American people could see past their next bone, perhaps they'd support a candidate with long-term solutions rather than one who promises short-term gratification.
Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Westside Eagle Observer. He may be contacted by email at rmoll@ nwaonline.com.
Opinion, Pages 6 on 04/18/2012