The Wisdom of Roger Miller
Recently, I’ve paid attention to the going-ons in Washington, D.C. as the House of Representatives attempted to elect a Speaker. As the number of unsuccessful ballots increased so did the comparisons to the last time so many ballots were required to select a Speaker. It seems it was before our Civil War.
Just Thinkin*
Recently, I’ve paid attention to the going-ons in Washington, D.C. as the House of Representatives attempted to elect a Speaker. As the number of unsuccessful ballots increased so did the comparisons to the last time so many ballots were required to select a Speaker. It seems it was before our Civil War.
Any Pre-Civil War discussion will bring out applicable Abraham Lincoln quotes. “A house divided against itself ————–can not stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the house to fail but I do expect it will cease to be divided.”
The human brain is a peculiar organ. It allows us to attempt to interpret situations of which we have only peripheral knowledge. Flawed or accurate, we will draw conclusions. The mind seeks consistency. If none exists, we attempt to create it.
During the recent efforts to select a Speaker of the House of Representatives, there were 14 failed attempts before succeeding. Between the 1st ballot and the 15th ballot, something changed. I detected the odor of bribery wafting in the air.
I started to hear a melody, then the words of an Oklahoma song writer and sage, Roger Miller came to me. I paraphrase, “House for sale or rent, rooms to let 50 cents.”
As the selection process wore on, a friend described the situation on the floor of the House as being like trying to herd cats. I preferred another Miller lyric, “You cant roller skate in buffalo herd.”
Bribery. Those who deal in human behavior will tell you bribery can be effective in securing a onetime response. Now, research indicates you will always pay more for the response than it is worth. And it is contractual, a one-time contract. I’ll give you this to do that and our deals concluded.
What do we do next time? And there will be a next time. We renegotiate. Oh, Lord!
Billie and I watched. We watched like people watch the car races. Hoping there isn’t a wreck but hoping that if there is one, we get to see it.
The House is a group of politicians, all of whom are only two years from being voted out, are constantly running for office.
As I watched this group play out their drama, the words of Roger Miller’s lament to a dysfunctional town came to mind, “We don’t reap and we don’t sow in this town.” It just seemed to fit.
We’ve caught a warm January day. The squirrels and rabbits in our backyard are really active. I eased back into an Adirondack chair and snapped open a coke can. As the fizz rose, I realized Roger Miller in another of his rhymes gave me a possible solution.
Chug-A-Lug, Chug-A-Lug! If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can’t it get us out of it. – Will Rogers Hal McBride writes a column, Just Thinkin’, published each week.
