A Stitch in Haste

"Because they needed the votes."
--House Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel

Here, meanwhile, is the "Democratic Congressional Leadership" Question of the Day:

The House voted for funding for the war with a date certain, March of '08, to begin a withdrawal of U.S. troops. But in that bill was $20 billion of so-called pork, money for cricket infestation, tours of the Capitol, security at the National Convention, peanut crops. Why would the Democrats put that kind of money in such a serious bill?

So, here is the apparent "responsible governing" way of doing business under the Democrats in Congress: Just buy the votes.

Whatever the leadership wants passed, they'll simply buy from the backbenchers. Have a Democratic congresswoman who's just a little too independent? Toss her some cricket infestation money. A holdout senator? Slide some peanut crop subsidies his way.

Welcome to the "new and improved" Democratic Capitol Hill -- which is remarkably similar to the old and corrupt Republican Capitol Hill.

All politicians are, by definition, moral defectives.

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Meanwhile:

I want people to recognize that when a nation goes to war, there should be shared sacrifice.

Of course, Rangel's idea of "shared sacrifice" is sending young -- and only young -- men -- and presumably only men -- to fight, bleed and die against their will for a cause that they may or may not believe in.

And when there isn't war?

But I'm telling you that a mandatory national service first would give us an opportunity to give these kids an education. Why we don't do it at a time where education is a part of our national security I don't know. Another thing is patriotism. When you serve and you put that flag on your shoulder, whatever the emblem is, it makes you a better American.

It's a bizarre worldview -- one that once was associated with dictatorships -- that presumes dragging youths, kicking and screaming -- either to the draft office, the "national service camps," or jail -- will instill patriotism. Teaching the young that their lives are the property of politicians -- the state -- "makes them better Americans"?

Strange days indeed.