There is a scene early in Mel Brooks' film "Blazing Saddles" where a new sheriff comes to an all-white town. The townspeople are decked out to greet him, one of the town leaders practices his welcoming speech, and the band is playing, when the sheriff rides up on his horse. The fanfare abruptly ends when everyone realizes that the sheriff is black. As the sheriff begins to make his prepared remarks to the racist crowd, some of the town folk pull out their guns and aim for his head. In a moment of ironic genius, the sheriff puts his own gun to his head, and tells everyone to put their guns down or the [racial epithet] will get it. The townspeople are somehow fooled by the ruse, and put down their guns so the sheriff won't get hurt. The sheriff then manages to get away, still holding himself hostage, and finally remarks to the camera how dumb these people are.
As I have watched the Republican fiasco in Congress, I can't help but think of this scene. In the name of ridding our economy of what they contend is the scourge of Obamacare, Republican leaders have shut down the government (which is already taking its toll on the economy) and have gotten dangerously close to forcing America to default on its debt (which almost everyone agrees would be economic catastrophe). In a parallel to the scene in "Blazing Saddles", they are holding the economy hostage in the name of saving the economy. In doing so, they must think that the American people are as dumb as the townspeople in Mel Brooks' film.
The main difference between this real life episode and the movie is that, in "Blazing Saddles," the sheriff was smarter than the town folk, while the same cannot be said for the Republicans who have led this charge. The President, Senate Democrats, a large number of Congressional Republicans, and a majority of the American people see through this insane and potentially suicidal ruse. They should not and will not pay a ransom to hostage takers, and the hostage takers are now beginning to see that any harm they inflict on the hostage will deal an equally devastating blow to themselves.
It is time for leaders in both parties to cut through the nonsense, end the shutdown and lift the debt ceiling, before anyone else gets hurt. And make no mistake about it, this standoff has been hurting people, lots of people, all of whom deserve better from their elected leaders.
As I have watched the Republican fiasco in Congress, I can't help but think of this scene. In the name of ridding our economy of what they contend is the scourge of Obamacare, Republican leaders have shut down the government (which is already taking its toll on the economy) and have gotten dangerously close to forcing America to default on its debt (which almost everyone agrees would be economic catastrophe). In a parallel to the scene in "Blazing Saddles", they are holding the economy hostage in the name of saving the economy. In doing so, they must think that the American people are as dumb as the townspeople in Mel Brooks' film.
The main difference between this real life episode and the movie is that, in "Blazing Saddles," the sheriff was smarter than the town folk, while the same cannot be said for the Republicans who have led this charge. The President, Senate Democrats, a large number of Congressional Republicans, and a majority of the American people see through this insane and potentially suicidal ruse. They should not and will not pay a ransom to hostage takers, and the hostage takers are now beginning to see that any harm they inflict on the hostage will deal an equally devastating blow to themselves.
It is time for leaders in both parties to cut through the nonsense, end the shutdown and lift the debt ceiling, before anyone else gets hurt. And make no mistake about it, this standoff has been hurting people, lots of people, all of whom deserve better from their elected leaders.
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