43 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 11 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds    H3'ed 12/2/10

Tell Alan Simpson To Just Shut Up

By       (Page 1 of 1 pages)   3 comments
Message Mary Pitt
When Alan Simpson left the Senate in 1997 to retire to his ranch on a cushy Federal pension, many Americans breathed a sigh of relief that we would no longer be exposed to his thoughtless rants of disregard for "we, the people." Alas, we are again blasted with his sneering references to the poor and the old as "sucking at the cow with 310 million teats" -- a word to which he gives the archaic pronunciation.

Simpson hides behind the excuse that he is a "country boy" who is accustomed to "straight talk." Well, I'm an old country girl who is quite familiar with that same straight talk, and I'm ready to give the world the "straight skinny" on Simpson.

This old fool would have the American public believe that he, due to his years of Senate seniority, has more wisdom than we have. This is not true. A look at his biography will demonstrate that, rather than having pulled himself up by his bootstraps, he has always been a child of privilege, and that privilege has come from that same old "cow" whose "milk" he does not want to share. His father was a United States Senator before him and every opportunity that he has enjoyed in his life has resulted from his daddy's position.

Senator Simpson, the younger, graduated from college with a law degree and admitted to the bar in 1958 with his military obligation already satisfied, due to having spent a year in the Army in service in Germany, a chore which involved no combat. Rather than working hard to establish himself as a practicing attorney, he went straight to "public service" as, first, a lowly Assistant Attorney General of Wyoming, advancing rapidly until he found his way to the U.S. Senate in 1978.

Virtually every day of his life, Simpson was supported by Federal funds which enabled him to attend college at a time when others were having to earn their living the hard way. At every step of his career, he benefited from his father's influence as a United States Senator in political appointments that were not available to the underprivileged hoi polloi for whom he has such disdain.

Now, I not only understand his reference to the "cow," I also recall the old country adage about dogs. When a new litter of puppies was born, they instinctively claim a position in the nursing order and this order was watched by the owner to see which puppy chose the most rearward teat. This puppy was believed to be the smartest, most healthy, and most desirable pup of the litter because he was the one who "sucked the hind teat." Obviously, Senator Simpson has been "sucking the hind teat" all his life, and it is time he moved over and demonstrated a bit of concern for the rest of the litter, a trait common in dogs who began in this position.

Those of us with intact memories will recall that Senator Simpson has, from the beginning, been at the forefront of the Republican campaign to repeal every one of the humanitarian measures that have been passed over the years to fight poverty by maintenance of the poor. From Roosevelt through Johnson, every president has fought to take care of the disabled and the elderly, and have done so despite opposition from Republicans in Congress.

To ask this man now to head a committee charged with the task of returning the national budget to a liquid state should be recognized as an open door to the continuation of his lifelong ambition. His proposals are sufficient evidence of his selfish determination to destroy any opportunity for the non-rich to live their sunset years in peace with a measure of financial security that is still far less then he has attained from his privileged existence.

Along with many other Americans, I have not been able to understand why he was the one whom President Obama called to chair the Deficit Committee, but I do believe that Obama is regretting his choice and will not turn to the same pattern the next time he has a problem. I'm sure that Senator Simpson is enjoying his return to the public spotlight but the old codger should be gently replaced in his rocking chair and his Federal pension reduced to the levels of the Social Security upon which his fellow Americans must depend.

Rate It | View Ratings

Mary Pitt Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

This writer is eighty years old and has spent a half century working with handicapped and deprived people and advocating on their behalf while caring for her own workung-class family. She spends her "Sunset Years" in writing and struggling with The (more...)
 
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

TEAR DOWN THE STATUE OF LIBERTY

The Naked Truth About Rape

The Truth about Your Income Tax

Sarah Palin Simply Does Not Matter

Revolt of the Grannies!

TO HELL WITH COMPROMISE: THIS IS WAR!

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend