Meet the new boss, Same as the old boss...

...or why I have disdain for most politicians

It looks like NY Gov, Elliot Spitzer, who I did not vote for (I ignore the screeching charges of being a lousy citizen for not voting for what seems to be the better of poor choices), has made a deal with Sheldon Silver, who rules the NY State Assembly, one of the most corrupt political bodies in the world. (And so many are friends of our UFT, which I bet will be in favor of the deal.)

With a looming $4.4 billion deficit, the state legislators, who are the 3rd highest paid in the US, could possibly get a 21% raise if Silver gets his way. But, hey, there are only 212 of them, so it ought to be a drop in the bucket. The NY Times article says, "Mr. Spitzer’s move underscores the degree to which the once reform-focused governor is taking a more accommodating approach this year after spending much of last year mired in controversy."

I recently wrote about the Spitzer/Mark Green deal to transfer money between their families to circumvent campaign finance laws.

And that's right after Spitzer cut back on educational promises. (See Leonie Haimson's "Four things to hate about Spitzer's education proposal" on the NYC Education News listserve.)

The actions of politicians always leads me back to these words from those political geniuses, The WHO:

Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss

We might as well do the entire lyric which all of you should recite as you read the daily comings and goings of our candidates. (Make sure to include the screams. It will make you feel better.)

We'll be fighting in the streets
With our children at our feet
And the morals that they worship will be gone
And the men who spurred us on
Sit in judgement of all wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the song

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again

The change, it had to come
We knew it all along
We were liberated from the foe, that' all
And the world looks just the same
And history ain't changed
'Cause the banners, they all flown in the last war

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
No, no!

I'll move myself and my family aside
If we happen to be left half alive
I'll get all my papers and smile at the sky
For I know that the hypnotized never lie

Do ya?
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

There's nothing in the street
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Is now the parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnight

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again
No, no!

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss