Every now and again we are offered a glimpse of a more perfect world. It’s different for everyone, but I think in every journey through life, occasionally we see something, meet someone, read something or in some other way experience small epiphanies along the way.
One of the hallmarks of the Tea Party movement is a desire for smaller government. A governing body more representative of what many Americans interpret the original desire of our founding fathers to have been. I don’t see how anyone could argue persuasively that we have not moved far away from that. We can all disagree, to a degree, on what the intent of our forefathers was, when drafting the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, but it is very clear that limiting the power and scope of government was a prominent concern.
In the last two years, under the Obama administration, the tentacles of the federal government have thickened and multiplied. The result of that effort lies before us now, and the unmitigated disaster that government-controlled health care will be is just beginning to unfurl. These are just a few of the reasons that, last week, the State legislature in Maine gave me a small glimpse of hope. A fleeting wisp of a more perfect world.
Last week the political powers in Maine had before them the weighty issue of whether or not to name the Whoopie Pie as the State Dessert. Yes…the venerable Whoopie Pie, long dismissed as the pastry of “white trash” and excluded from the pastry carts at high-end beaneries all over the world. Snorted at, and looked down upon, the calorie-laden treat, consisting of two thick wafers of chocolate cake with an enormous dollop of white, frosting-like filling between, has been discriminated against and ridiculed for decades. Now…finally,,,thanks to a profile in political courage unrivaled in recent history, the W.P. will finally find it’s place in Maine…and American…history. Even Amos Orcutt, President of The Maine Whoopie Pie Association…no, I didn’t make that up…is delighted with the prospect of their little cake assuming such a powerful position in the dessert world.
Laugh if you will, but hours were spent on modifications to the Bill. First, an amendment had to be made to allow, vanilla, red velvet, and pumpkin cake to be allowed into the fold. Naturally, many variations of the Original W.P. have been developed over the years. Try spending a winter in Northern Maine and eventually you will be reduced to recipe experiments as a last resort activity to keep yourself from going nuts. And so it is, a multitude of cave flavors will be accepted, but the construction of the treat, the ‘blueprint” if you will, must remain the same.
What is most heartening to me in all of this, because I don’t care for Whoopie Pies though I have nothing against them and would allow them in my home, is that finally a government body has recognized its limitations and decided to act within them.
We should all hope that this same sensibility would spread to Washington. It’s perfect. Name the State Bird, pick a flower, go ahead and pick out a license plate theme. Also, kick in a little for National Defense and highway maintenance and construction…but as far as the rest of it? Pour yourself a glass of milk, have a Whoopie Pie, and get out of the way.