POLITICIANS: Recall a familiar folk story

The blatant lack of honesty shown by some current politicians in their desire to get elected by camouflaging their extreme positions, recalls the following folk tale:

The rainfall had turned the river into a raging torrent. The turtle standing beside the river was attempting to build up enough courage to cross when an anxious scorpion scurried up beside him.

“If you’re going to cross the river, could I please ride on your back?” pled the scorpion politely.

Horrified at the thought, the turtle promptly replied with a resounding, “No!”

“Why is that?” asked the scorpion.

“Because” said the turtle, “you’ll sting me mid river. Everyone knows how dangerous scorpions are.”

“That’s ridiculous.” replied the scorpion, “If I did that both of us would drown. I’m different.” “You can trust me.”

The scorpion went on to explain how much he respected the turtle and the turtle’s good nature, and how smart he knew the turtle to be.

After considerable back and forth the turtle was convinced of the scorpion’s good intentions, so he relented. The scorpion climbed aboard and the turtle started to swim across the river.

Mid-river, the scorpion stung the turtle in the neck. The turtle’s swimming got more labored as the venom started to take hold. The turtle looked up and sorrowfully asked, “Why did you have to sting me?”

The scorpion answered, “...because stinging is what scorpions do.”

Citizens deserve to drown in the horrors of life if we don’t spot the “scorpions” and destroy them at the ballot box.

DICK SHELDON

Coeur d’Alene