Our Ancient Regime

You can't see nothing
And pinball completes the scene
Here comes Uncle Ernie to guide you to
Your very own machine
--The Who

One argument offered by those who opposed ratifying the Constitution as-is was that, over time, it would create a government that was aloof and removed from the people. Put enough distance between the government and the governed, the thinking goes, and politicians will begin to see themselves as a ruling elite. They will shower themselves with perks and build barriers against their removal. What was a federal republic morphs into an aristocratic Ancien Regime.

There can be little doubt that Washington has been moving in that direction for some time. Perhaps my first recallable data point in this regard was learning in junior high social studies that those in Washington enjoyed 'franking privledge'--free use of mail services. Why should they get free stamps, I thought. My eyes opened a bit wider some yrs later when George Bush Sr was unable to quote the price of a loaf of bread while he was president in the late 80s.

Today's elected officials enjoy lavish salary and benefit plans, including retirement and health care outside the scope of mainstream programs designed for 'the people.' Today's perks go beyond free stamps to include rich budgets for travel, staff support, entertaining, et al.--all of it billed to...us.

During the Constitutional debates, some smart cookies suggested that in a truly free state individuals could become so focused on pursuing their destinies that they will become less vigilant in guarding their liberty against perpetual assault by those who want to take it away. Couple that with the distancing effect of central government, which promotes apathy and indifference among citizens, and you get the elitist mentality that pervades Washington today.

At some point, however, the elitist behavior is likely to become so extreme that it raises eyebrows even among the most apathetic.

Perhaps we're nearing that point...