ShareThisThe nation's hopes ran high in the historic year 2008. For the first time, we elected an African-American as our president. Hispanics clearly helped make it happen. They supported him nationally, 67 percent to 31 percent, over John McCain, while providing him with a clear electoral-vote edge in Florida, among other key states.
When Barack Obama took office, the nation was in a mess. We were engaged in costly wars. Americans' savings were tapped out, buying overpriced houses they couldn't afford after being assured that real estate always appreciates in value. Unemployment was rising as the spiraling real-estate market imploded. Home values descended quicker than a balloon riddled with buckshot. Foreclosures began wiping out neighborhoods and tearing families apart.
It took a while for us to figure out what was happening.
Government bailed out the banks. They were too big to allow them to fail. Wall Street had to be saved for the rest of us to survive, we were told.
Hispanics and blacks were hardest hit. Hispanic household wealth collapsed 66 percent from 2005 to 2009. For black families, it was 53 percent. For whites, a much smaller 16 percent.
Someone will pay for this and heads will roll, our political leaders said.
We didn't realize that it was our heads they were talking about.
This realization brought the wrath of the people. Tea Party-movement folks sprouted quicker than wild mushrooms after a steady rain. Their voices complained of big government and taxes. They stormed into the political arena with anger and slogans.
On the opposite side of the spectrum came a noisy group blaming Wall Street. These forces set out to occupy it. Proponents camped out in public spaces. Republican and Democratic politicians blamed each other, everyone but themselves. They were frozen like deer caught in car headlights.
The media seemed to wallow in the excitement, providing instant updates, fanning every conflict, some real, others pure speculation. Congress argued more than it acted. Obama gave speeches and more speeches.
We waited for a solution from Washington. What a mistake!
After defeating England's monarch and its royal court, our forefathers wanted a democracy. Over the years, England has maintained its monarch, dukes and royal court. As an offspring of England, we created our own type of royal court. Its members are not born into it. We elect our royalty. After all, we're a democracy.
Our nationally chosen Washington folks get titles like "senator" and "representative." They're given office space, a generous salary, a staff to do their biding, free transportation, medical coverage, marshal protection, doormen, luggage carriers and "donations" by those seeking favors to ensure their favorite royalty's longevity. We in turn expect these lords and ladies to run our country for the good of all of us.
Somewhere along the way, our elected royalty forgot that part. They treat us like we're illiterate, unwashed serfs.
Not so fast, lords and ladies. Return to your domain and explain. What did you do to protect our jobs and our homes? Why was your effort so inadequate, so weak? Explain what you will do now that you know we don't trust you anymore.
How will you provide for all those who fought wars but now seek work at home? How will you pay for all the promises that you have made to reduce our debt?
Our forefathers probably foresaw that over the years a royal-court mentality could evolve among those we chose to represent us, and so gave us the power to change its members. Sure they can lie, deny and promise, but they can't hide. They need to be reminded that we, not family lineage, decide who is royal. November is not that far away.
(Herman Sillas was U.S. attorney for the Northern California region during President Jimmy Carter's administration. Reach him at sillasla(at)aol.com. For more stories, visit scrippsnews.com.)
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