The banality of shame
The blaring sound and blinding spotlight from the political main stage makes it easy to overlook an important political lesson that has happened in our own backyard: Congressman Tim Murphy won re-election to “his” seat.
His district is seemingly impregnable to all opposition, and further empowers dysfunctional partisan politics. There is much shame to be distributed.
Shame on Murphy, who had no opposition from Democrats or any other party, in 2016. The deck has been stacked, laden with marked cards to guarantee results.
Shame on national Democrats for the obscene and obnoxious amount of money spent and ultimately wasted in Pennsylvania’s Senate and presidential races. They decided early to throw in the towel and concede the congressional race to Murphy.
Shame on local Democrats for their “give up” mentality. Even had they recruited a “Rocky”-like candidate, the general election ballot would have provided another choice for the district’s voters.
Shame on me, this son of a World War II Navy veteran, for not conveying this sentiment sooner. When voters have no alternatives, democracy is thwarted. Concomitantly, the sacrifices of all veterans become devalued, disrespected and compromised.
Shame on the electorate for becoming hypnotized by circus-like partisan politics. And shame on our nation if we forget the lessons of confronting Nazism, communism, fascism, imperialism and terrorism.
There’s the saying, “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” How many times will we allow Murphy to fool us?
David J. Bober
Canonsburg