Purloining Power
Oh, I know what you say: a great honor
It is to be elected legislator,
You get to write laws that we must foller
As we country bumpkins dwell in the holler.
Doesn’t it say in the constitution
An educated electorate is
Necessary for the good of common
Welfare in a democracy? It is.
Yet here you go writing laws to destroy
Schools and prevent in every way their
Ability to levy taxes, your ploy
To derail schools so we are unaware
That you have stolen the power from us
Who, as the people, need to be kept from
The darkness of an autocracy, plus
You say the Blaine Amendment is just some
Old fashioned way to keep God out of government
Because we must follow His ways as it
Says in the Bible. But wait, that’s a blunt
Way of forcing your beliefs down our throats.
The serpent was never as deceitful
As you, gently legislating away
Our democracy because it is well
Known you are honorable, as you say.
Forgive me if I don’t go out of my way
To kiss your hand that would slap the power
Out of my educated head, that way
You can have honor purloining power.
March 2023
About This Poem
I have had a negative feeling about the Idaho legislature's need to control local education and make demands while underfunding for years. This poem is my frustration about that. It seems that it's only getting worse. And I seriously do believe that many of the people in power are corrupt and want the populace to be uneducated so they are easier to control. Look at the American desire to believe the craziest of conspiracies! Just gets worse as we go. The photo is of the Senate Chambers in Boise.