Watching TV shows and movies about mobs and mobsters, years ago, I remember mobsters sometimes saying to one another: ‘Hey! Don’t get cute with us!’
The meaning of those words was open to interpretation.
Around mid-morning, Eastern Time, on June 16, Newsweek published an article by Shannon Power, that got me thinking back to old shows and movies.
In Ms. Power’s article, about Florida Governor Ron DeSantis suffering a “huge blow in his battle with Disney,” the governor had said, about the Disney company… “They’re not going to govern themselves. We the people are going to govern.”
Those words, “We the people,” sure seem popular in politics, and why wouldn’t they, since various politicians want all us folks to know how special we the people really are.
The words have such a patriotic ring, to them, since, for one thing, they’re in the Preamble to the nation’s Constitution. No doubt about it: there’s plenty of patriotism packed in those three words.
But differentiating politicians’ words from their actions, might tell a rather different story, especially if particular politicians are legislating book bans, and extreme measures governing women’s health, and ignoring the peoples’ desire for gun safety measures, and such.
Now, since Governor DeSantis launched his battle with Disney — because the company spoke out against the Sunshine State governor’s “Don’t Say Gay Bill” in 2022 — “nearly two in three Americans” have a favorable view of the Disney company, according to the Newsweek article.
The governor’s popularity, on the other hand, has been dropping.
So might this suggest taking various politicians’ patriotic words with a grain of salt when comparing their words with their actions, on a number of issues. Several politicians in the House of Representatives and the Senate might come to mind. And a former president, perhaps, too. And some governors, elsewhere, around the country. And some mayors.
And, speaking of a former president, the Republican National Committee, just recently, declined a request to amend a loyalty pledge that would have freed GOP presidential candidates from supporting a convicted felon, should a conviction occur, in the run-up to the next election. And right now, former President Trump, who’s leading the pack of 2024 candidates in his party, seems to be rolling patriotic-sounding words off his tongue, as his trial dates, for a growing number of cases against him, are pending.
So, what’s the deal, here?
Are some politicians getting cute with us?
Harvey Radin is former senior vice president in charge of corporate communications and media relations, Bank of America Western Region. He makes his home in Redwood City, CA.