Food for thought

A movie made in 1949 might not be thought to be relevant today. However, "All the King's Men" was recently shown on the movie channel TCM. Based on Robert Penn Warren's novel that is a fictionalized treatment of Louisiana Governor Hugh Long's career, the movie shows clearly how the political machine corrupts even the most well-intentioned politicians. Long (Willy Stark in the story), brilliantly portrayed by Broderick Crawford, was elected in 1928 when Louisiana was one of America's most economically backward states. With his initial compassion for the 'poor folk', mostly dirt farmers, Long set about building roads and bridges to help the farmers get produce to market, schools, and hospitals. Gradually, taking his cue from his opponents, Long became a blatantly corrupt demagogue, which led to his assassination. Ironically, at the end, the dirt farmers were still as poor as they ever were, proving economic conditions never permanently improve for the worker in the capitalist mode of production. The movie proves the maxim that 'all power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely'. Let's have done with a system where individuals weald power over others. John Ayers