It's interesting how appropriate Latin phrases can be. They're succinct, and sharp. In this case, the phrase that's the title to this post may be translated as: "Man is a wolf to his fellow man." It's appropriate as a description of what takes place whenever one of us has an advantage over others and seeks to exploit it, but is particularly descriptive of the current state of our Glorious Union.
Today is the Fabulous Fourth and consistent with the wish of their master his thralls in Congress have managed to adopt an enormous tax-and-spend bill bearing the silly name he wished it to bear. As may be expected, it lavishly benefits the haves at the expense of the have-nots, and reflects the curious belief so dear to the wealthy and their minions that the nation is infested with malingerers taking advantage of social services. It's a conceit which may serve to assuage any concern with the less fortunate a wolf may have.
The bill appropriates millions to the development of a sculpture garden to be filled with sculptures of great Americans, no doubt to be carefully selected. It seems Disney will be our guide when it comes to expressions of patriotism. Extravagance is characteristic of oligarchs and has been typical of very wealthy Americans, as was evident during the Gilded Age. The New Gilded Age has begun, clearly, and it seems the gap between rich and poor now is even greater than it was in the time of the Robber Barons.
Perhaps "Alligator Alcatraz" is the best example of the lengths to which we'll go in our capacity as wolves to our fellow men. Requiring immigrants to comply with the law is one thing on which all may agree, but the means used to accomplish this may be reasonable. But it's not allowed to be, wolves being wolves.
Evidence that those we're in such a frenzy to deport have engaged in criminal conduct is sadly lacking, but the urge to treat them as criminals is apparently overwhelming. To do so in such a showy, gloating fashion is particularly unworthy.
But there's no such thing as a worthy wolf.
