Posted at RightOnPeachtree:


I finally saw "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington". I always heard that it was a good movie and I finally saw it. It was truly a classic.
The movie itself was full of some well-formed Washington caricatures:
Long-term politician: Stodgy, out-of-touch, and corruptStaffer: Cynical and jadedPress: Pessimistic and slanderousLone Idealist: Still believes in and loves his country
Even though the movie came out in 1939, it could've easily been written in 2006. The story revolves around a corrupt alliance between a politician and a powerful businessman. The businessman has this old-school politician in his hip pocket and pretty much runs the government according to his own selfish desires. In the movie, a construction project called the "Willet Dam" is spearheaded by the businessman and pushed through Congress by the sold-out politician.
Does that sound familiar? There are hundreds or even thousands of Willet Dam's approved by Congress each year that are either wasteful pork barrel spending or some favor to a politician's friend, family member, or campaign contributor. Just as in the movie, they are often hidden in bills or added at the last minute (e.g., earmarks) and the American people continue to get the short end of the stick.
In the movie, though, Jimmy Stewart gums up the works when he realizes what is happening. He takes on the old-school politician, the powerfully corrupt businessman, and the entire Washington establishment, and he exposes the corruption for all to see.
Where is our Jefferson Smith (played by Jimmy Stewart in the movie) today? How many more Willet Dam's must we endure before our REPRESENTATIVES stand up and REPRESENT us again? It's time to stop the wasteful spending. Stop the earmarks. Stop the freebies from lobbyists. Stop the favor-peddling. Contact your elected representatives. Demand action. If they still refuse to manage your tax dollars wisely, vote the clowns out of office. Tell your friends, family, and neighbors to vote them out. Campaign against them.
And I have a suggestion for Congress: They should show "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" on the Senate and House floors once per year and it should be mandatory for all representatives to be present. And after viewing it, they should be tested on it - the storyline, the lessons offered, the parallels to today. It doesn't have to reach all of them. If it could only reach one or two who still have a shred of integrity, it could serve its purpose and, perhaps, save our country.
As Jimmy Stewart might say, "Gee whiz - That doesn't seem like too much to ask."


...read complete post at RightOnPeachtree