State of government

Last Friday’s Democrat-Gazette was a reminder that the current state of government is maddening, but the lack of response to it by our elected officials is more so. They enable it, completely disregarding the dangers that stance presents to a civilized society.

Senator Cotton has yet to be critical of the self-serving arrogance, unabashed lying, and crudeness of Donald Trump. He noted that the special prosecutor’s convictions are “draining the swamp.” A good observation, but one that ignores the fact that it is being drained by Robert Mueller, and that the material being removed was put there by Donald Trump. Senator Boozman, to the best of my knowledge, has decided to remain quiet rather than take any kind of principled stand. Representative Crawford believes the investigation has gone on too long and has strayed from its purpose. He is not interested in the history of other investigations.

So of these three paid to handle governmental issues on our behalf, one seems to say nothing, one is happy that some scofflaws have been ferreted out, and one doesn’t care about the scofflaws but wants a complex and thorough international investigation done quickly. Sure, why not? None are praising Trump’s mean-spirited and foul-mouthed tweets, his lack of understanding of government and civility, or his lack of interest in learning about these things, but they are not voicing any criticism either.

And so the saga continues until we see some willingness from our representatives to take principled stands or they are replaced by some who care about honesty, integrity, and civility, and demand it. Trump is who he is, a character-disordered individual who lacks a moral compass and has gone through life believing it is his world peopled with objects to serve him, and that the only higher powers are those who are openly stronger and meaner than he, such as impeccably protected dictators. RODNEY ARENT Little Rock