As the story goes, the Emperor of Rome, Nerō Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus or Nero for short, played his fiddle while Rome was burning in A.D. 64. As with most political stories there are problems with the facts. First, the violin had not yet been invented at that time let alone the more casual name of fiddle being associated with it. Secondly, it is really not certain that Nero played any instrument during the fire, but that doesn’t mean the story is worthless. Nero fiddled while Rome burned has become a parable for leaders who lose the significance of the challenges they face and concentrate instead on trivial things.
This week the angry racially fueled fires are burning in Baltimore and we are hearing how the lawbreakers are showing disrespect to the memory of Freddie Gray and poisoning the atmosphere necessary for anything positive coming from this latest senseless loss, but permit me to have a different look at this.
If you visit my Blog (www.hankthomas.authorsxpress.com ) you will find nearly 100 posts relating to all kinds of things political and much of what I have written there is related to the dysfunction of our Government in one way or another. The Government at all levels is run by politicians and politicians all need money to run an election campaign. Politicians get that money from the corporations and special interests and we have countless examples of how Government is being run for the benefit of the business interests everywhere rather than for the constituents who elected them. Back to Baltimore, where we hear those all too familiar thoughts about how the CVS Pharmacy and other businesses that were damaged or destroyed were necessary to the wellbeing of the community because they provided jobs and offered goods and services the community needs to survive. We also hear the Police Commissioner saying that we first must protect our Police Officers and then we must protect the property from the lawbreakers. All true, but also not the whole story.
The anger in the community didn’t just happen last night. No, it took years of nurture to reach this level of frustration. Infrastructure was carefully neglected so that new business interests could be supported. Housing was allowed to become blighted to the point of abandonment by even the lowest of the low-income residents. Crime was allowed to become the livelihood of choice because it was the only choice available.
What does all this have to do with Nero? Think of Nero as the voters in America and think of Rome as America. Until the voters decide to take their Government back from the corporations and special interests, they are just fiddling while America burns.
The Sausage Grinder is Broken, will you help to fix it?
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