Deal Us In

[H2O Man]

Years ago, I attended a wedding of a cousin-in-law. He was, at the time, an attorney in an area prosecutor’s office. Hence, at both the ceremony and reception, there were numerous lawyers. I noticed, at the reception, that they had gathered in one room -- some who practiced civil law, some defense lawyers, some prosecutors, and even a couple of judges. I thought it was interesting that they had secluded themselves in one room, and that no one who hadn’t passed the bar ventured in there.

Being a man of few social graces, and no sense of boundaries, I walked in and found a seat. All discussion in the room came to an abrupt halt upon my entering the room. It remained silent for a moment after I sat down. I noticed that all of “the boys” were looking at me. Hence, I considered the possibility that it was my presence that resulted in the deafening silence.

I had been looking at a house and property that was going for sale. The previous inhabitant had moved to Florida. The bank that held the mortgage was looking to make their money back. I knew that in upstate New York, lawyers frequently purchased such properties for a large discount, and either turned them into rental properties, or re-sold them for a hefty profit. That was the way the game was played. Indeed, in discussing this property, there were a couple of gentlemen who were aware of it.

Thus, I said that I wanted to be dealt in on this one hand. I said that I wanted to raise my children in that house. I wasn’t interest in becoming a land lord, or in selling property. So I politely requested that they not compete against me on this one place. I said that I wanted to be dealt in on this one hand, and this hand only. They all were good with that.

When I bought the house -- which I’ve called “home” ever since -- I got a loan through HUD. At the time, HUD had a well-deserved reputation for corruption. The lawyers from HUD actually did attempt to strong-arm me for additional cash for the closing, literally the night before we were set to sign the paper work. I knew they were full of shit, and called them on it the next morning.

While I don’t mistake myself for an ”expert,” I knew the rules of the game. For example, I didn’t need to hire my own attorney on the closing; the attorney for the bank could represent my interests, without any conflict of interests. By the time the closing ended, the attorney for the bank -- who had been in that room at the reception -- offered me a job as a para-legal at his law office. But that’s not why I’ve told this true story.

Lawyers, even if they oppose each other in a criminal trial, are all officers of the court. They are loyal to the court system. They identify with that status -- even when socializing at wedding receptions, for example. I remember talking about this with a good friend and co-worker at the mental health clinic. He told me about how, after lunch-time basketball games at the YMCA, he would overhear different lawyers cutting deals on cases in the locker room.

Many, though not all, of our elected representatives in Washington, DC, are lawyers. But, they are usually loyal to a different club, the House and/or Senate. They may be opposed to one another at work -- both before and after lunch -- but they all recognize that they belong to an elite institution. (It is true, however, that many reject the wining-and-dining that used to be common after the sun goes down. But, I suppose, you can’t really blame anyone for not wanting to hang out with Ted Cruz, right?)

Now, please don’t get me wrong here. I know that this social dynamic isn’t limited to lawyers and politicians. Law enforcement, for example, seems to encourage socializing with others in the same field. But limiting your social circle in such a manner can lead to equally limited thinking. More, it can impact behaviors, due to an “us vs. them” mentality.

This may be pure speculation upon my part, but I think that some of the hostility that we see on the part of establishment Democrats towards Bernie Sanders is related to this type of socialization. And that includes the behaviors of some of the very good people who are part of the establishment. Does that make sense?

A lot of our elder statesmen and stateswomen have had long, solid, and respectable careers -- often including their histories before they became politicians. And that’s a good thing, and honorable. We need more good people to, like them, enter politics, and to become part of the establishment. That’s essential, including for minority communities, and really for all of us. For example, while I identify as a white male, I benefit from having diverse people in government, obviously included both non-whites and females. It surely isn’t the same benefits that advocates of all-white, all-male government were (and are) after. For social justice has never been on their agenda.

Yet, even at his age, Bernie is still fighting for social justice, and looking for our country to accomplish those goals he had identified in his early adulthood. And he’s a man of the common people, rather than a member of an elitist social club. As he recently noted, he is not good friends with Henry Kissinger, or his ilk, people who are members ingood standing within that club.

We want the good cops to prevent the bad cops from having a badge and gun. Likewise, we want good politicians to identify the ethically diseased ones within their ranks. The scum intheir club.

More, Bernie is vocal about the corruption in politics. That corruption includes large sums of money. As a common citizen, I understand why people both need and like money. And that big money has, unfortunately, been connected with getting elected and re-elected. And that the circle of government, lobbying, and the corporate world provides temptations ….and if one is looking to earn real money, it can be easy to justify cozy relationships with those advocating deals that profit everyone -- in the club. I get that.

But for those who follow this well-worn path, it must sting to see Bernie campaigning for president in the way he does ….exposing that corruption. Especially because when the public hears Bernie speak, they know he is telling the truth, and if enough people really listen to him, it will mean serious changes in the game. there are going to be a lot of registered voters, saying that they want to be dealt in on this hand in the game of politics.

A lot of people don’t want the rules of the game to change. And why would they? For they are comfortable with things being just the way that they are.

But there are more of us, than of them. It’s as simple as that.

[LWolf]

1. Yes.

Deal us in.

[H2O Man]

4. Right.

I find myself paraphrasing James Forman: "Deal us in, or we'll kick out the legs from underneath the fucking card table!"

[RobertEarl]

2. 'Twas ever thus

The powerful don't retain power by bringing in new people and letting them alter the game. No, they keep power via exclusion and limiting the players.

Our democracy thrives on democracy. Democracy is, by definition, inclusion.

Bernie is an outsider. Obama, too, or was, an outsider. Much of the resistance to Obama stems from that, that and he's not lily white.

Our constitution, imo, as far as elections go, is based upon limited anarchy, meaning every so often we have the opportunity as outsiders to replace the rulers. To remove, if we so choose, those who rule over us.

Our establishment rulers wish they could be monarchy, but they can't, except for members of SCOTUS.

[H2O Man]

5. Exactly.

I agree, 100%.

Reading your contributions on DU always reminds me of how much I wish we could have a get-together sometime. If you are ever in upstate New York, please let me know.

[RobertEarl]

8. It would be a wonderful meeting

If they ever run me out of town, I may consider heading that way.

I have a feeling, however, we have met before? Past life, or future already? Take care, my friend, and keep posting so others may share in your wisdom as it does inspire many.

[H2O Man]

11. I agree.

(I could comfortably host 125-150 DUers here, for a three-day progressive fest.)

[redwitch]

28. Upstate NY here too. Not far from Albany.

I would love a large DU get together. Let's wait until after we have a nominee though.

[H2O Man]

30. Sounds good!

I'm about half-way between Oneonta and Binghamton, not too far from I-88.

[redwitch]

32. I travel rte 88, beautiful scenery on that road.

Did not enjoy it in the snow though, those embankments!

[shraby]

3. Hopefully we can do it to it. Change the game toward inclusiveness and if it means giving the boot

to some, so be it.

[H2O Man]

6. Thank you, Friend!

Ah, the DUer responsible for sparking DU's infamous Plame Threads! Dang!

I continue to both enjoy and respect your contributions on this forum. You always serve as a voice of reason, and that is much appreciated!

[shraby]

22. I thank you for expressing my thoughts where I come up short.

Actually you were the impetus for my Plame quest.

[cyberswede]

7. K & R nt

[H2O Man]

12. Thanks, Buddy!

[Gregorian]

9. That is why I think that we have already won.

I hadn't thought about the notion of one candidate moving the political line, when it first came out. Then I realized that people were hearing the very things our corporate owned media does their best to hide from us.

It's good. The world isn't stagnant. We need freshening. Some of these new members of Congress, and many who are just now running, are solid in their alignment with humane principles.

I like to think that Tony was out on his property when it donned on him that a real liberal was in the lead for president. Thump... I have no shame.

[H2O Man]

14. I find myself

thinking about gardening .....I'll be putting in a garden, for the first year since my 2001 auto wreck. My sons and daughters are excited about it.

I have some large compost piles. And compost, of course, is but the decayed remains of what formerly lived. That's a rather apt description of the Sanders movement -- bringing forth new life, from the decaying remains of our past society.

Note: My older son, while watching a debate here recently, pointed out that if Trump isn't the republican nominee, a significant number of his supporters will likely vote for Bernie. But it's not possible, in the same context, to see any of them voting for Hillary. I think that's interesting. And potentially important.

[GreenPartyVoter]

33. That would be an interesting dynamic, but my take is pledge or no pledge

he would mount an independent run if he wasn't the GOP candidate.

[Luminous Animal]

10. Another fantastic insightful post. Thank you.

[H2O Man]

15. Thank you.

That's really nice of you to say. I appreciate it.

[myrna minx]

13. Wonderful essay.

[H2O Man]

16. Thank you!

I wasn't sure if it was too long and boring. But I thought it was an important thought,and one that I thought worth discussing.

[hootinholler]

17. Who's been slipping you the awesome essay pills?

I want to chip in, I hear they're expensive.

Thank you for spending the time to write!

[H2O Man]

18. Thanks!

I'm glad that you & others like the OP. I don't think it's particularly well done; but it is a topic that I think is interesting and important.

[farleftlib]

19. Bernie is a gamechanger K&R

The reason I believe Bernie's message resonates is because he's still one of us and he feels our pain and he can articulate it. I don't know if it's because he lives in liberal VT, but you know he doesn't live in the bubble that the other 1%ers inhabit. He seems not to want to either. He talks to people like us everyday, it's obvious he still cares after the meeting is over. He probably gets his hair cut at the local barber shop with the cops, mechanics and electricians. I see him as probably the last chance we'll have to elect someone who rejects the insiders' club and what it takes to belong to it. He'd be a civil servant president.

When Hillary made the abuela faux pas last year, she was taken aback by the strong reaction and the rejection of her overture stung her. You can just tell she'd never sit in the kitchen with anybody's abuela. She's a wealthy grandmother, but never has been and never will be an abuela. She might hire one. Likewise, Gloria Steinem and Madeleine Allbright are astounded by our rejection of Hillary. Here they are sending out one of their own BFFs to be our president and they are gobsmacked that we can't identify with her and don't really want to try. After they get what they want, they'll go back to their gated communities and forget us. No thanks. No sale.

BTW, I've worked with lawyers and oh boy are they clubby, it's good they kept their word about the house.

[H2O Man]

23. Thank you.

One of my youngest daughter's good friends is very active politically. Her primary focus is on empowering women. That included attending the global environmental summit last year. In the spring of 2015, she posted some nice photographs of her with Hillary Clinton, who she initially supported for president. However, as she learned more about Bernie, she changed her mind, and is now a strong Sanders supporter.

I enjoy talking to her -- mainly on Face Book -- and think it's so encouraging to see a young person so dedicated to social-political action. And while she is an individual, I think that she is representative of her generation. These young people think for themselves, which is exactly what we should all want. That doesn't mean that their elders have no influence upon their thinking. There's not a "generation gap," as there was in the 1960s and '70s. It just means that they think for themselves, which is essential for democracy.

[Uncle Joe]

20. I believe you have captured a fundamental truth, H2O Man.

Thanks for the thread.

[H2O Man]

21. Thanks, Uncle Joe!

I believe that it's something that people need to think about.

[Zorra]

24. Excellent. Thanks!

"Being a man of few social graces, and no sense of boundaries..."

[H2O Man]

25. I've learned to accept

that I don't always fit in. Heaven knows I try ....I really do.

For example, way long ago, when part of my job duties included working with wayward youth, I attended a school meeting with one teen-aged boy, who was prone to disruption at home, in school, and in the community. But at this meeting, the experts noted that he had been doing better in recent times. When asked, the kid attributed that change to my influence.

After the meeting ended, the school's psychologist came over to me, and said, "I know what you are all about. I used to be the same way. You don't believe society's rules apply to you. Just look at the way you are dressed."

I had on blue jeans, a white shirt & tie, a suit coat, and white sneakers. I'll admit that Beatle John Lennon had influenced my choices in dressing up. But his words weighed heavily upon my mind. I was determined, if I was ever to attend another meeting with this psychologist present, that I'd wear two neck ties. Would you agree, Friend Zorra, that two ties would have been a display of conformity? A salute to tradition?

[Zorra]

36. It seems to me that two ties would have been perfectly appropriate

for another meeting with the psychologist.

I get it, and have also had to learn to accept that I, (alas), don't always fit in. Decorum, (under many circumstances), has been a mystery to me. Uncle once told me that what other people think of us is none of our business, and I believed him.

[antigop]

26. Standing ovation, sir.

[H2O Man]

27. Thank you.

I'm glad that you and some others like this OP.

[kgnu_fan]

29. K&R

[H2O Man]

31. Thanks!

[mmonk]

34. Recommended. Wanted to get that in before I take a break.

Deal us in. It's as simple as that.

[kydo]

37. This was the type of stuff I was execpting to see in this forum.

Not the crazy flame baiting that seems to happen more often then not here.

Thanks H2O Man for reminding me of why I come to DU. Thanks!

[Arazi]

38. Yup, simple as that!! kicked and recced eom