"With Great Power There Must Also Come--Great Responsibility!"

[MrScorpio]

All of you Spider-Man fans out there are familiar with that passage. It's the moral of Spider-man's origin tale: Peter Parker, a very smart young man, who is physically weak and socially challenged, comes into possession of tremendous strength, agility and supernatural abilities. He immediately recognizes that, once gaining these powers, his goal should be to enrich himself and reverse his status as a social pariah.

After arguing with a wrestling promoter who had cheated him out of money, that promoter was robbed. Parker witnessed this robbery and allowed the thief to escape, in a fit of apathy over a man that had done him wrong. The promoter castigated Parker over his inaction and Parker's reaction was one of a man who didn't care. Unfortunately, Parker's inaction would spell dire consequences for his own beloved uncle, who had raised him from a young child, because that man that robbed the promoter who had cheated him earlier later on became his uncle's own killer.

Parker realized, however tragically, that the use or misuse of power sometimes result in tragic consequences. From that moment on, he dedicates his life to using that power to do the RIGHT THING.

This is a lesson that we can adhere to our present situation. The core of it is much more than one should dismiss as being a homily ensconced in a mere comic book.

Great Power. In my humble way, I extend an invitation to the Democrats, if the people decide to extend the mantle of great power after the vote tomorrow, to wield that power WISELY.

We have seen after these few years, that the Republicans are utterly incapable of doing the right thing with their hold on power. They are much like Peter Parker BEFORE he learned his tragic lesson, in that one should use great power ONLY to be responsible to oneself. To enrich themselves and to mold the body politic in such a way as to create an environment that does nothing except maintain their elevated status.

From usurping the redistricting process to manhandling lobbyists to change the balance of money to much better line their pockets, the Republicans have done wrong after wrong. Their policies have reflected this ideology quite clearly and their rhetoric has done nothing but appeal to basest aspects of the electorate's collective psyche: Greed, hate fear, lust and the rest of the Seven Deadly Sins. The Republicans sought power for power's sake.

Their apathy about the threat of terrorism early on, allowed the attacks on 9/11 to occur and instead of realizing that their failure has resulted in this tragedy, they decided to use those events as tools to increase their own power. Again, power for power's sake.

Two horrible wars later, and the threat of more on the horizon has done nothing to educate the Republicans on the consequences of their own actions. All of their actions are reflective of their goal... more power. From the Military Commissions Act and its debasement of the Great Writ of Habeas Corpus, through the complete disregard of the law of Posse Comitatus, the Establishment Clause and the co-equal branches of Government, the Republican Party has shown nothing but utter contempt our own deeply-held American traditions. Traditions which propelled our nation to be the pre-eminent arbiter of global power, with the solemn guarantee that we use that power responsibly.

But, the Republicans' response to Parker's tragic lesson is to do the wrong thing and to do a lot of it.

Time and time again, Republicans have shown their contempt for government. The goal of good government is to ensure that we are free to pursue those promises of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Not to sacrifice all of them on the altars of greed and authoritarianism. To satisfy their lust for power, thats exactly what they have goaded so many citizens to grant an imprimatur to do.

That is so wrong.

We citizens, have rights and responsibilities of our own. We, the citizens of this country, are not vassals who should be subject to the whims of a dictatorial regime. Our government was created to ensure that we hold the reigns of power, not some oligarchy. Over the two centuries-plus of our existence, more and more of us have gained enfranchisement. But the premise remains, politicians are our servants, we are not theirs.

Soon the citizens of this country will exercise the power that is ingrained within in them by casting their own ballots.

If the Democrats are granted the power of government tomorrow, we should hope for immediate change. We should hope that they reverse the country's course, set by the Republicans, and steer a better course. Not one guided by revenge, or jealousy, or fear or stupidity, or power for power's sake as we have seen, but one guided by the blueprint of responsibility.

That's my simple wish.

You know, I'm not asking that the Democrats don red and blue jumpsuits to go gallivanting around the world to save the day if they win. A victorious Democratic Party will not be suddenly transformed into superheroes.

But, I am hoping that they will do something that the Republicans are totally incapable of doing, and thats to understand Peter Parker's simple lesson to do the right thing when they are given the responsibility to do so.

May Your Chosen Candidates Win.

Thank you for your time.

[SeattleGirl]

1. Thank you, MrS. I absolutely agree with you.

While I am really REALLY pissed at what the Republicans have done to this country, and to other countries, and while I confess that there is a part of me that would love to plant my boot in their collective asses, I agree that when the Dems take the House (and hopefully, the Senate too), that they do NOT indulge in that kind of thing, that they do NOT misuse or abuse the power bestowed upon them by We The People. That is exactly what the Republicans have done, and look at where it got us. No, the Dems must exercise responsibility with their new power, and must, MUST, use it for good.

While I was on my way to see the advanced screening of "Bobby" this evening, I was listening to Randi Rhodes talk to RFK Jr. on AAR. He was talking about the election tomorrow, as well as in 2004 and 2002 and 2000, about how the Republicans stole those elections, and he said, "The Dems have done it too," and they have. That is why checks and balances are so important. As the saying goes, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." The Dems won't have absolute power, even if they take both the House and the Senate, but they will have a LOT of power, and it is my hope, as it is yours, MrS, that they use it for the good of We The People, and for this country and the world at large. Thanks so much for your post.

[MrScorpio]

2. I need to see that movie

Thanks for that review

[H2O Man]

3. Right .

We are at a crossroads as a nation.

[MountainLaurel]

4. Powerful stuff

:applause:

[MrScorpio]

5. Thanks, ML

I'm just sending out my thoughts