Political house of cards

My husband and I have been watching a new TV series called “House of Cards”. It’s starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, and we are hooked. 

First of all, I love Kevin Spacey. He has played so many different parts over the years and has a “Kevin Bacon like” nature to him. If asked what his real personality resembles, I would be unable to respond with any intelligent guesses. All the parts he has played have convinced me, and they have all been drastically different.  Robin Wright, on the other hand, totally surprised me. In the past, I have always seen her play the roles of women that were very soft, very feminine. Very not aggressive. Her current role in “House of Cards” is quite different. She is a hard, conniving, brilliant and ruthless partner to her manipulative and power hungry husband. 

I don’t know how accurate the show is, and how much of it is hyped up truth. I know that when I watch TV shoes related to teaching, I always want to roll my eyes. Sure, there is truth at the core of the situation, but the level of drama is totally out of control. Not representative of the reality. Same goes for the shows based on legal or medical, I have no doubt. 

With the recent political environment, however, I find myself curious. I would be intrigued by an honest conversation with someone who is an active member of high level politics. If they could say what they really see happening, what would they say? How would they explain the inability of our current politicians to properly maintain our federal budget? To have functional relationships with their opponents despite, in theory, all wanting the best for our country. 

One of the characters on the show, a congressman, really has me thinking. He’s a good man, with a substance abuse problem. Every time he gets himself together, something truly stressful happens and he falls off the wagon.  In one of the episodes we just watched, one of his “friends” just organized his downfall, swooping in last minute to pick up the pieces of a ruined man. He was manipulated into supporting conflicting causes (I.e. looking soft and indecisisive) and then lured into drinking by the planting of a beautiful woman. 

 Another “friend” took over to stage his suicide so he couldn’t talk when he proved unreliable. 

Another political candidate is ruined when his competition drudge up the college newspaper he edited over 25 years prior, focusing on a single article that disagreed with his current political platform. The fact that he didn’t even write the article was irrelevant. Even if he had, it was 25 years ago. Maybe he changed his mind as he grew up? Hmmm… 

And no, I don’t think our congressmen are actually knocking each other off, committing murder. That, I believe, is the TV drama entering the picture. The backstabbing and manipulation, however, is likely to be accurate. During the most recent election, both Obama and Romney were accused of flip flopping on the causes they supported in the past. I don’t do my research well enough to know which accusations were documented and which ones were taken out of context and used as distraction, but if you want to know the truth… here it is. 

I feel sorry for our politicians. Sure, some of them honestly started out power hungry and mean. But then, really… don’t you find people like that in every part of life? Friends of ours have a son who is struggling with a boss like that in a local retail store, far from the political arena. 

Most politicians, I’d like to believe, started out wanting to effect change in the world around them. They saw a problem and wanted to be part of the solution. So they joined politics. They figured having power would enable their ability to influence greater change. And then they became part of the game. I wonder if they even realize how much their circumstances have changed or do they really still believe they are doing what is “best” for those they represent? 

Perhaps both sides of the floor should address this question, ponder their methods. Their ultimate goals. Perhaps our government, and many others, would be in better shape.