Seriously, because when one really focuses on it, Washington, D.C., isn’t a cesspool because of Eric Swalwell. Eric Swalwell is a major contributor to the cesspool that is Washington, D.C.

Let’s use the disease analysis, because after all, Washington, D.C., is a cancer on the body of the United States of America. How Swalwell behaved merely shows he might be the pancreatic cancer of the larger whole. Other politicians might be skin cancer or prostate cancer or insert your cancer here. But in the end, it’s all still cancer.

The fact is, no matter how the citizens of America have been diagnosed with cancer, be it federally, statewide, in your county or humble city, government is the giant, malignant tumor we are all suffering from. It just so happens that the folks in charge decided to remove the tumor formally known as Representative Eric Swalwell (D), California.

And to think, he was about to metastasize into the governor of California. Or did you somehow think the terminal diagnosis for Golden Communist State wasn’t accurate? He was going to win.

Maybe it’s time America stopped going to the free, government clinic for its health care. Then again, maybe methadone clinics and drug abuse is a more apt analogy for how government is destroying our great country. Ever known an addict who is self-medicating with harsher substances who got clean?

I know, this might be the point where you are saying, “Hey Craig, can you use different examples?” or “Perhaps cut back on the hyperbole?” In a word: No. The analogies need to be over the top, because the behavior of those in our government is just as over the top. And the analogies aren’t about just reckless spending or bad governance (there is no, or little, good governance), or this side hates that side.

It’s all about absolute power corrupting absolutely.

If you don’t think it affects all of them, why do you think they never vote to get rid of one of their own. I’ll say it. It’s because in their own way, or in some way, they are all corrupted by the system once they enter it. Because like cancer, government must multiply to survive. And the only way government can accomplish that is to leech off its host. In this case: the American taxpayer. And government’s only courses of action? Corruption and force.

And if you don’t think “your guy or gal” is immune, then explain to me why Jeff Hurd wouldn’t vote to censure Ilhan Omar? How is Jena Griswold still secretary of state for Colorado when she committed the same crime as Tina Peters? Or how Just Jason is still on Grand Junction City Council? Or yes, how Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales were allowed to resign from Congress with pensions instead of being thrown out and perp-walked?

I’ll tell you. Because the rest of them are in on it.

No, I am not saying every politician is in as deep as those mentioned here. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t in the club. Fact is: Your guy being better than the other guy doesn’t say much when your guy’s main job is protecting the tumors from the antibodies. Isn’t that what democrats did for Swalwell the past decade? Isn’t that what republicans did for Gonzales? The only reason those guys are gone? The physician on call decided the disease was spreading too fast and amputation was the only alternative.

But the fact remains, they were only amputated to appease the masses. After all, convincing the people they care, or they are just, or they are for the people is the real job they have, so they can keep the only job they know: selling you snake oil for what ails you.

Yes, even “your guy” with the Snidely Whiplash mustache.

How long have they been running for office and “fighting for you?” Or telling you when THEY get to Washington, they’ll work to rid it of waste, fraud and abuse while watching the waste, fraud and abuse grow to epic proportions every year? How about republicans telling you it’s the democrat’s fault and democrats claiming it’s all the republican’s fault? Or the evilest way both sides do it: It’s the fault of your fellow American who has more than you, has a better life than you or looks different in myriad ways from you?

They’ve literally sold the American people that folks who think differently than they do are the source of all their problems, all while they are the only answer. The big problem with that? EVERYONE thinks differently, and throughout history more government has never been the solution. The only thing government is good at is expanding greed, power and lust – and lust in all its forms. That’s the reason for the title I gave this column, because Swalwell was just the latest – although possibly the best – example of greed, power and lust since … Anthony Weiner. But let’s face it, we could go back every decade and find the name of a republican or democrat for a reference.

How about we just stick with the generic “leaders” moniker?

Ask yourself: How many times have you said your leaders let you down? How many times have you said they give me no reason to trust them? How many times have you asked yourself are they all corrupt? If you’re like me, at least every November that you’ve been alive.

The fact is, even if you think your guy is “one of the good ones,” just know the folks who think differently are saying your guy is “one of the bad ones.” This is how government survives and grows. The fact is, everyone reading this can find something wrong in how the feds, the state, their county or city spends money and exerts force. I know that’s vague, but with the trillions of dollars we’re talking about, it must be as vague as it is easy to find waste, fraud and abuse, no matter one’s side of the aisle.

Eventually with government, as with cancer and drug abuse, the problem becomes too big, and it destroys its host. We’re at $7.5 TRILLION in spending, approaching $40 TRILLION in debt and have untold HUNDREDS of TRILLIONS in unfunded mandates at the federal level alone. We’ll never satiate the appetite of government in its lust for money and power at any level.

How long before every part of our lives is overrun with the cancer of government? Given the politically drugged up leaders (or dealers?) we keep electing, I’d say not long. The patient needs to find a new clinic. Problem there? The government runs health care, too. It also controls the Narcan.

It doesn’t look good for the patient.

In Truth and freedom.

Craig Hall is owner and publisher of The Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com