I shoulda listened in school

Dear Mr. Pyles:

I’m sorry, man.

And not for throwing that eraser in your social studies class. Although … did you have to eject me?

No, I’m sorry I didn’t listen. I thought I remembered you teaching about the separation of powers in our federal government. You know, checks and balances.

Did I imagine that?

I must have.

Didn’t you say Congress was No. 1, with authority to make laws and decide what to spend? Instead, we have a House of Toadies and a Senate of Preening Pansies, happy to fall as smiling roadkill to the executive.

And the courts. Weren’t they to be the check of last resort? No? The executive now shouts “neener, neener” at them, while our highest court pines for the 18th century.

As for the “executive branch” – such a sterile name for its latest embodiment in Captain Blunderbuss and his strutting manservant, Mr. Richest-Man-Ever. More than any others ever, they flout laws, rules, norms and courtesies. They disdain competence and human consequences.

So, Mr. Pyles. I should have listened more and studied harder. Bad, bad me.