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The increasing attacks on public school teachers – which is absolutely part of the corporate plan to destroy unions – reminds me of why I view our society in the context of a high school classroom. Or, for that matter, a junior high school classroom.
The institution includes the students, who by far make up the majority of the school's inhabitants; the clerical staff; the teachers; the principal; the superintendent; and, often out of view, the school board. Thus, there are six levels within that system, in which the majority have relatively little power, while each of the next five levels have an increasing level of authority.
The least powerful level does have a “student council,” which generally creates the illusion of providing the power to make decisions to create a better atmosphere for the student body. Yet, as a rule, those student councils reflect the fact that there are socio-economic layers within the community members who send their children to school. With few exceptions, the student councils are made up of kids who come from the “better” homes: their parents tend to hold business and/or politically influential positions in the community.
Small potatoes, perhaps, but arguably a form of programing youth for the realities that exist in the “real” adult world. For if you look closely at politicians in Washington, DC – including members of the House, the Senate, and even some Presidents – you may recognize them as some of the kids that you knew in your school years. Is not, for example, George W. Bush the obnoxious, untalented off-spring of rich parents, who not only expected, but demanded special treatment? The arrogant loud-mouthed coward who started fights that he fully expected others to win for him?
Yes, I view our society as being engaged in high school class warfare. The democrats and the republicans in Washington, DC, are almost always the children of an “upper” social class. Not all of them are from the most elite economic class, but they surely answer to that school board. And the school board always does its important business in “executive session,” in meetings the public has no access to.
This does not mean that I think the democrats and republicans in Washington, DC, are exactly the same. They are not. The key differences are actually easy to identify.
Democrats have a conscience, but no spine; while republicans lack any hint of conscience, but do have a spine. Thus, the democrats know what they should be doing. They are able to talk big when campaigning, asking for your dollar and your vote. But they always get weak when it comes time to do the right thing.
Republicans' lack of conscience allows them to tell any and all lies with a straight face. Their spines give them the advantage in any perceived fight – not because they are tough guys, but because the democrats fold before the first punch is thrown. Yes, the republicans are the playground bullies that you and I despised from grade school on.
We need to think back to who dared to stand up to that playground bully. It wasn't the honor roll student from the upper class home who was kind of nice to the poor kids, but who didn't dare fight that bully. He knew he would get in trouble if he went home with dirt and blood on his clothes. No, it was that kid from the poor home, who wore clothes already stained by his existence, that fought back. When you think back, you'll remember how the bully used to avoid that boy. The bully recognized that kid had a conscience and a spine.
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