George Bush’S Great America [EN]: Chapter 163

George W. Bush’s Great America – Episode 162

Autumn, with its colorful foliage, was approaching.

A man was striding excitedly down the White House hallway toward the Oval Office, his footsteps loud. No one dared to stop this impolite behavior. After all, this excited man was the owner of the White House, the President of the United States.

This was a rare occurrence. He was not one to outwardly express his excitement, at least not in front of others. It was a far cry from his public image, but that’s what a ‘politician’ is all about.

In any case, he had his reasons for showing his excitement. Behind him, like ducklings following their mother, were people chattering incessantly. Their expressions and tones were desperate. They varied in age, gender, and even political party, but they all had one thing in common: they were ‘politicians.’

Normally, Democrats and Republicans only agree when the homeland is attacked, like during 9/11. From the earliest tribal civilizations to the modern era, politics and administration have always been about the struggle for the interests of the powerful.

In ancient times, they openly discussed how to exploit more efficiently. In modern times, they discuss how to exploit more efficiently, but ‘less’ openly. ‘Law and order’ is a byproduct of dividing the delicious pie that is the nation.

Too extreme? Then why are all politicians rich? Shouldn’t they be satisfied with a normal salary and basic needs? If they are serving the people, why do politicians’ salaries increase every year, and why do they take bribes?

Of course, there may be poor politicians, because the ‘interests’ discussed here do not only mean wealth. If a conscientious politician contributes to the lives of the people and gains ‘honor,’ that is also an interest. Have they won the hearts of the people? Then that, too, can be considered an interest.

An interest is the right to gain benefits, and benefits mean something that is materially and mentally helpful. When this conflict of interest intensifies, or when they are blinded by it, it is called ‘corruption.’

However, there are occasionally those who transcend cost-benefit calculations, beings with higher-dimensional ways of thinking that are difficult for humans to comprehend.

Such people are called saints. Throughout human history, there are only a handful of such mutants, not enough to fill a single A4 sheet of paper. Even though they are capable of becoming politicians, they usually avoid getting involved in politics. Isn’t that why their followers separate them from the ranks of humans and deify them?

And these people have never become ‘politicians’ in human history, nor will they ever. These people cannot be classified as human in the first place.

In any case, this phenomenon of conflict of interest is most prominent in countries with normally functioning political parties. This is inevitable even in democratic regimes. Rather, this tendency is stronger in capitalist democratic regimes because the directly visible figure of ‘capital’ strongly intervenes in all aspects of national administration.

However, conflict of interest itself is not necessarily bad. ‘Good people’ and ‘capable people’ must be clearly distinguished. Therefore, integrity and competence also need to be distinguished. Because they know very well that if they don’t loosen up appropriately, a revolution will break out and destroy the current system and establish a new regime. This is a very troublesome thing for rulers.

There’s a reason why the saying ‘bread and circuses’ [basic necessities and entertainment used to appease the public] exists. Anyway, back to the main point, for Republicans and Democrats to agree, there must be a problem with a common interest. Like the 9/11 attacks mentioned above, or a large-scale national project that benefits them equally. Such things are very rare, but the important thing is this: there is a critical and serious error in the ‘interest sharing’ of the Republican and Democratic parties right now.

And it’s in a field that both parties have in common.

“Mr. President? Please reconsider this time.”

“Mr. President, this is too dangerous. It will cause major disruptions to future schedules and legal enactments.”

Bush stopped abruptly, causing them to bump into each other comically. It was like watching a pile-up on the highway.

“Why?”

Yes, the important thing is ‘why?’ Why are these people chasing after someone who is already busy, like dogs needing to relieve themselves?

To understand that, one only needs to look at the newspaper Bush is holding. The headline news on the front page. The front page represents the character of the newspaper, and further, the character of the newspaper company, and can be said to be the most powerful marketing tool that the newspaper company can utilize.

This newspaper was ‘The Times.’ Not an American newspaper, but a British one. In other words, a foreign newspaper. The content was as follows:

“‘Minor Acquitted in U.S. Drunk Driving Accident That Killed a Family of Four.’ This international disgrace. And you want me to close my eyes to the citizens who spend every night in sorrow over the loss of their family and in anger at the corrupt government, appealing for justice?”

Having said that, he took a deep breath. If he didn’t, he might get too excited and throw a punch. A punch would hurt normally, but in this case, combined with his age, it could cause a concussion and kill the other person instantly.

So instead, he decided to cut off their social lifeline.

“Do you want to quit politics as of today?”

Bush completely seized his lifeline, and he turned pale and just opened and closed his mouth a few times. Unlike other presidents, this president had a transcendental way of thinking that didn’t care about cost-benefit calculations and would just destroy anything he didn’t like.

Another congressman, who had been watching the pathetic state of the senator who had turned into a goldfish, confidently stepped forward and continued the story. His face was quite likable, and his expression was full of confidence. His appearance alone was enough to inspire trust. Wouldn’t it be better to listen to a handsome middle-aged man than a cunning and ugly person?

Aestheticism may not be right, but it cannot be denied that the genes that make up human instincts include the ability to judge by appearance. Isn’t that why people even get plastic surgery? In human society, appearance is very important.

“I’m not defending the crime, but you have to look at the big picture. You can’t draw a big picture if you’re obsessed with small details.”

However, the problem was that the brain of the president, who was standing in front of him with his arms crossed and his mood twisted, was a bit off, and he was the type of person who would just beat you up if he didn’t like you, regardless of your appearance.

So, after speaking, he realized his mistake. Persuasion is about understanding the other person’s tendencies and knowing how to move their heart, rather than appealing to one’s own desperation, but the other person’s tendencies were chaotic.

In other words, no one knows where it will bounce. He quickly changed his words from euphemism to directness. If he couldn’t do anything right away, he should at least postpone the timing.

“Please consider the repercussions of the actions the President is about to take. I wouldn’t go so far as to say they are a necessary evil, but if we turn the court upside down now…”

“The world will become a little cleaner. The United States will take another step towards becoming a nation governed by the rule of law. Words like ‘guilty if you have no money, innocent if you have money’ will disappear. Now that I say it, it sounds really good! We should push it forward right away.”

At least, it was difficult for any sane person to refute these words. But one of the most important virtues for a politician is a mouth fight, and the politicians gathered here were the all-time champions of mouth competitions. They all had an excellent talent for quickly finding other side paths when they were at a loss for words.

“Now is not the time. You have to do it at least in your final years. The projects you’re working on now could all be ruined. If businessmen and conglomerates turn their backs on you, the economy will collapse, and as a result, ordinary people will have a harder time living. We’re going back to the pre-pioneer days when we could barely eat one chicken a week.”

In a capitalist society, large corporations are essential for national projects, and if those large corporations pull out and start obstructing everything the country is trying to do, there is no end to it. The reason why the seemingly invincible American government is swayed by money is all because of money. Some convenience had to be given to them for their smooth cooperation.

This was the same in any country, regardless of East or West, as long as there was a court. Even if it wasn’t, there was not a single regime that was maintained without the help of the vested interests.

“I don’t think so?”

Where does power come from in a capitalist world? It comes from capital. People often mistakenly believe that power in a capitalist world is money, but that only works between individuals or between companies. Money only has value because the country that issues the money guarantees its value. If the country withdraws its guarantee or collapses, it is nothing more than a mass of bacteria and fiber.

“If that’s the case, what’s the difference between this and the Middle Ages, when nobles had extrajudicial powers and ran rampant?”

Therefore, if the government has a clear will not to tolerate it anymore and threatens them even a little, their minds will change. Of course, it will go back to the way it was when the regime changes, but at least Bush was not the kind of person who would not strike down a corrupt court because he had to maintain power even though something had gone wrong.

“Do you think I became president to see this kind of thing?”

“That’s what the position of president is all about, enduring such contradictions and self-reproach.”

One of the senators who had not given up until the end stepped forward to stop the president.

The president didn’t exactly say how he would deal with the court, but it was clear that he was going to tear it all down like the police. There were two problems. To be exact, one was a public problem, and the other was a private problem.

When the state police were reformed, the federal police were able to handle the absence of public authority, but the courts could not do that. To be exact, the courts were also divided into federal courts and state courts, but the federal courts only dealt with issues that violated federal law, so the parts they oversaw and their nature were completely different. Therefore, it was such a complex issue that it was said that in order to overhaul the state courts, the country of America itself would have to be overhauled.

And the private reason was lobbying. Why does lobbying exist in American society or anywhere else? Isn’t it all about asking them to take care of you? It was no different from paying protection money to local gangs. Paradoxically, if the person receiving the lobbying had no power, there would be no reason for lobbyists to lobby.

“Do you know that?”

“Yes?”

“In a world where common sense doesn’t work, only people without common sense can be president.”

This was a kind of declaration of war, and the conversation itself was ended by Bush entering the Oval Office.

“There will be a large-scale filibuster [a tactic used to delay or block a vote on a bill].”

The chief of staff said with a somewhat uncomfortable expression. He knew that the things that would happen in the future were incomparable to what he had experienced so far.

“I know.”

Of course, the president’s expression was the most refreshing expression the chief of staff had ever seen.