Mr. Will Rogers

Humor in Government

 

 

June 24, 2019

Mr. Will Rogers

Dear Mr. Rogers:

While doing my daily cryptogram, I came across one of your quotes and that got me thinking about the numerous past letters I have written to the Founders, Signers, Framers and others. But before I go into details, allow me to give some background about you. It seems you were known as a stage and motion picture actor, vaudeville performer, humorist, newspaper columnist and social commentator from Oklahoma. Of these, you are best known for your humor and social commentary when you made your mark during the Roaring 20’s and the Great Depression. A staunch Democratic when it came to politics, did not stop you Mr. Rogers from shredding either party when you felt it was deserved.

For some time now, I have been writing to our Founding Fathers, Signers and Framers reporting how their great experiment is moving along and if we are following the path they set for this country and if not, maybe we can learn from their hopes and aspirations. What I have found interesting is that if our politicians today followed their advice we all might be better off. It gets frustrating when you realize this and our representatives don’t. So, I thought I would write to you since you too might be interested in seeing how your thoughts are still relevant today.  Here is the witticism I found in that cryptogram which hits home and, just like the Founders, you too are going largely unheeded which puts you in good company.

There is no credit to being a comedian, when you have the whole Government working for you. All you have to do is report the facts. I don’t even have to exaggerate.

 Or as you boiled it down to later on which made it perfectly clear.

I don’t make jokes – I just watch the government and report the facts.

I am sure that most citizens today would agree with that quote and that our government on all levels and on all sides has become one series of jokes after another where common sense has gone completely out the window. Issues such as immigration, health care, infrastructure, taxes and foreign trade are issues you would think that both parties would be able to find some common ground to work on, but unfortunately that is not the case. Some are more concerned about a pay raise for themselves. Pay raises for not doing their jobs!  I am sure most of the people they work for can painfully find the humor and irony in that.

Mr. Rogers, if you were around today you would be having a field day and I am sure that neither side would be safe from your barbs and daggers. As a matter of fact, with all the new mediums of today you would be even more popular and better known then you ever were. What is truly sad Mr. Rogers is that nearly 85 years after your death, the government is still a source of comedy and is providing even more fodder than it ever did in your day After realizing this, you might be even more frustrated than I am and I am sure that you can appreciate what the Founders, Signers and Framers must be thinking.  I just hope that some of these elected officials read your quote and realize that they have become an even bigger joke over the years.

After reading about you and doing further research, I found many more of your witticisms so you can expect to be hearing from me again. Thank you for your time Mr. Rogers.

 

Sincerely,

Andrew DeMarco