Having a little time on my hands recently, I’ve been watching some Netflix. Somehow, I came across the title “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a 1939 American political comedy-drama film, starring James Stewart and Jean Arthur, about one man’s effect on American politics.
When it was first released, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was attacked by the Washington press, and politicians in the U.S. Congress, as anti-American and pro-Communist for its portrayal of corruption in the American government.
The critical response to the film was more measured than the reaction by politicians, domestic and foreign. The New York Times wrote that “[Director Frank] Capra is operating, of course, under the protection of that unwritten clause in the Bill of Rights entitling every voting citizen to at least one free swing at the Senate. Mr. Capra’s swing is from the floor and in the best of humor; if it fails to rock the august body to its heels — from laughter as much as from injured dignity — it won’t be his fault but the Senate’s, and we should really begin to worry about the upper house.”
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington has been called one of the quintessential whistleblower films in American history, a seminal event.
You can see Mr. Smith’s famous “Filibuster Speech” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX8aFpnWxPA
1939 is three quarters of a century ago. Though the names have been changed to protect the “guilty”, much of what this film is about still goes on today.
Isn’t it time for a change?
Yesterday’s election results suggest it is.
(With a little thanx 2 Wikipedia)
"Isn’t it time for a change?"
Yes. It is.
spare change?
i should think that the recent vermont gubernatorial race should be example and warning enough that those “politicians” shouting at us about change are in the end the least involved (unless you believe yelling tired, if not meaningless, slogans and tirades a definition of being involved), the least wise, the least competent to do anything effective, maybe the most entertaining and probably the most cynical. that isn’t a recipe for change to me. it’s a bad copy of a lot of what we already have. if you read that NY Times review of “Mr. Smith” carefully, you might discern that the real problem is human nature and you’re never going to change that. that was the gentle genius of Capra. he understood that and was able to laugh at it.
Real Change
There’s a night and day difference between what the politicians mean when they shout “change”, and real, significant systemic change.
We have to redesign our entire socio-politico-economic system. Anything else will be merely cosmetic.
No more “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss” nonsense.
Human nature may not change, but we need a different system, a more balanced system, one that does not reward sociopaths.
Side note…
I found out by looking at ballots that a Mr. Finnell was running for sheriff. I had not heard anything about this prior. I think redesigning our system also means announcing candidacies and rallying support for candidates. : )
It wasn’t just the race for sheriff. I saw almost no campaigning this year from anyone, supporters or candidates. Many seemed to assume they didn’t need our support, or that everyone must know all about them, or ???. I don’t know what they were thinking.
If candidates don’t care enough to try to reach or engage us, why should we expend any effort on their behalf?
I didn’t see much campaigning here on this site, didn’t see anyone come through my neighborhood, got no mailings after the primary, and only saw Milne out waving at voters. Even lawn signs seemed minimal. If it weren’t for the town clerk announcements to come and vote, one might be hard pressed to know an election was underway.
Back to Tom’s point – yes – we need something that is more balanced and more truly representative. I also don’t see it happening, ever, especially while people continue to support the status quo in an endless loop of hoping for change and never getting it. We seem to be gluttons for punishment. : )