Whose??
The more people learn about the transaction that has been scrutinized and approved by my government, the more they’ll be comforted…
– G.W. Bush 02/06
When I say “my government”, it’s from the point of view of mass ownership. That is, I’m one of 300+ million people who own this government. It’s mine and yours and hers and theirs. I hae no direct stewardship over it.
When the President says “my government” it cannot be construed as being from a “I’m just an ordinary citizen” point of view. Sure he is one and therefore has a minor ownership role, the same as you or I, but as the President, as one of the chief stewards of the government, the phrase “my government” is not only wrong but it displays an Orwellian arrogance. The President should never, not for one instant forget the fact that the people own the government, not any individual and certainly not an elected official.
It may be that elected officials actually have somewhate less of an “ownership” role in the government than ordinary citizens. Perhaps they (the elected) should view their ownership of their government as partially suspended, placed in blind trust if you will, as long as they’re being paid by the people who do own the government.
- There’s a certain attraction to viewing alected officials as somehow less of a citizen than myself. Maybe we should pass a law.
When this president says “my government”, unfortunately he means it. He doesn’t see himself as a caretaker or steward of the public trust. He views his role as owner, savior and father figure - “don’t wory about, I’ll take care of it”. And we’re letting him act in that role. We’ve become a nation of frightened children.