Rodeo Clown

[emendation -- Belgian corkscrew;
so the Austrians don't have a sense of humor --ed.]

Every faction in Africa calls themselves
by these noble names - Liberation this,
Patriotic that, Democratic Republic of
something-or-other...
I guess they can't own up to what they usually are:
the Federation of Worse Oppressors
Than the Last Bunch of Oppressors.
--Lord of War (2005)

There's been a load of compromisin'
On the road to my horizon
But I'm gonna be where the lights
are shinin' on me
--Rhinestone Cowboy, Glen Campbell

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys.
Don't let 'em pick guitars or drive them old trucks.
Let 'em be doctors and lawyers and such
--Mamas Don't Let Your Babies
Grow up to be Cowboys,
Waylon Jennings
________________

Ranger recently filed a congressional inquiry with freshman Representative Steve Southerland's office based upon a charge by the Social Security Administration that they have mistakenly been overpaying him for three years and that he owes the government $10,740. He discussed this snafu in "Effing Wrong" 20 April 11.

Three months on, the inquiry has not been answered and the SSA has not provided any justification to verify the correctness of their allegations and actions. Since April his account has been garnished to pay back the contested monies and his monthly payments have been reduced, all without one iota of proof from the SSA. [A more paranoid person might wonder if blogging while on Social Security is the new DWB.]

There is no way to appeal the action without the facts. The SSA may have made an error, or they may not have, but withholding the facts is no way to run a government agency. Thus far, Rep. Southerland's Social Security rep has been unable to garner any additional information; he informed Ranger that he is currently handling 55 cases from constituents and that the going would be slow.

Meanwhile, we were delivered of brochure yesterday from the patriotic-sounding conservative PAC -- Heritage Action for America -- heralding Southerland as one of the "Magnificent 11" for cutting the fat out of government. "Fighting for Us!" is the tagline, but how can he fight for "us" when his staff is so stretched thin?

The back of the glossy featured a mounted cowboy in silhouette, holding an American flag. This was obviously not the good Rep., who was an undertaker prior to taking office this year. It's all hat, no cattle.

We feel that Rep. Southerland's actual profession is far more suggestive of the current state of the union.