Jack Horner's American Pie

Little Jack Horner
Sat in the corner,
Eating a Christmas pie;
He put in his thumb,
And pulled out a plumb,
And said, What a good boy am I

It has been years since I heard that nursery rhyme. According to today’s local newscast, the plumb pie is still around – or at least the “plumb book.”

Apparently, there is a book that lists all the jobs that a new president can give to whomever he chooses when he takes office. If my memory serves me well there are over 7500 listings available this year. That means that 7500 Republicans will lose their jobs and 7500 Democrats will replace them – mostly based upon nepotism. A few token Republicans will probably be retained just for good measure.

These are not “entry-level” positions. One job entails managing a small radio station in the Philippines. The annual compensation is $150,000 plus benefits. Apparently, these kind of cushy jobs fill the pages of the “Plum Book.” (It is called the Plum Book because its cover is plum colored; but I think it would still thrill Little Jack Horner).

This kind of greed and avarice has come to characterize American politics. In some measure it has always been there but of late has become much more obscene. And, regardless of campaign promises the trend is not likely to change significantly. The Bible predicts that this type of avarice and deceit will characterize the Last Days. Jeremiah’s words centuries ago were indeed prophetic:

“For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for gain” (Jer. 6:13).

How many plums do you suppose remain in the American pie?