Washington’s version of musical chairs

As you probably know, musical chairs is a game where people move in a circle around chairs enough for all but one player, while music is playing. When the music stops, everyone tries to sit down. One person doesn’t get to a seat in time and loses. One chair is removed and the process begins again. Eventually, the winner is the person who sits down on the last chair.

That’s how the world plays the game. Washington plays by its own rules. And the key rule is to not be caught sitting down when the music stops. Why? Because you get the blame when it all goes wrong.

Politicians don’t like that. It could interfere with their ability to increase their federal pensions for each year of “public service,” as they are eternally reelected by pretending that they are doing a good job. Fortunately, the public doesn’t fact check so they get away with it.

It could also damage their relationships with the special interests that they pander to, and who keep giving them money to be reelected forever.

If you are caught sitting in the chair when the music stops in Washington, you are “held accountable.” In Washington, that phrase means nothing to the politicians, but the public has a long memory and it may mean something to them.

The winners of the musical chairs game in Washington are the ones who aren’t sitting in the chair when the music stops. Eventually, as in our failing economy the music will stop and there will be hell to pay.

Political appointees and senior politicians are always relieved to get out of the chair before the music stops. They know the game.

Someone has to take the blame, just not them.