Bill Moyers: Lincoln Weeps

[tpsbmam]

http://www.tompaine.com/print/lincoln_weeps.php


<snips>

If democracy can be said to have temples, the Lincoln Memorial is our most sacred. You stand there silently contemplating the words that gave voice to Lincoln's fierce determination to save the union—his resolve that "government of, by, and for the people shall not perish from the earth." On this latest visit, I was overcome by a sense of melancholy. Lincoln looks out now on a city where those words are daily mocked. This is no longer his city. And those people from all walks of life making their way up the steps to pay their respect to the martyred president—it's not their city, either. Or their government. This is an occupied city, a company town, and government is a subservient subsidiary of richly endowed patrons.

Once upon a time the House of Representatives was known as "the people's house." No more. It belongs to K Street now......


.....We have now learned that Jack Abramoff had almost 500 contacts with the Bush White House over the three years before his fall, and that Karl Rove and other presidential staff were treated to his favors and often intervened on his behalf. So brazen a pirate would have been forced to walk the plank long ago if Washington had not thrown its moral compass overboard.

Alas, despite all these disclosures, nothing is happening to clean up the place.....

The only way to counter the power of organized money is with organized and outraged people. Believe me, what members of Congress fear most is a grassroots movement that demands clean elections and an end to the buying and selling of influence—or else! If we leave it to the powers that be to clean up the mess that greed and chicanery have given us, we will wake up one day with a real Frankenstein of a system—a monster worse than the one created by Abramoff, DeLay and their cronies. By then it will be too late to save Lincoln's hope for "government of, by, and for the people."

[cspanlovr]

1. Thanks for posting this. A great read. I love Bill Moyers.

[CrispyQ]

2. k&r

[Qutzupalotl]

3. Reminder--Moyers' special is Wednesday Oct 4

9pm my time. Check your local listings.

It's about Abramoff. A whole hour to go in depth as only Moyers can.

[philly_bob]

4. Moyers on Abramoff tomorrow? Everybody! /nt

[wicket]

5. I'll be sure to set TiVo

Thanks for the reminder!

[converted_democrat]

6. K&R- Thank you for posting!! n/t

[GeorgeGist]

7. Lincoln Weeps...

how naive and cliché and desperate for attention.