If you want to glimpse a case of elitism writ large, look no further than Washington. If you want an example of a member of the ruling class looking down his nose at you, focus on John Brennan.

John ran the CIA in years past. John now provides commentary for a tv news network. John retained his security clearance. Until President Trump revoked it. The President threatened to revoke the security clearances of several other intelligence figures. Some of them were fired. Some resigned. Some are under investigation for shenanigans.

Taking away the security clearances set off a firestorm of course. The storm swirled the air with claims that the President is acting like a dictator. That he is trying to suppress free speech. That he is punishing his critics. That’s because Brennan and some of the others have seethed, in public, against Trump. For instance, Brennan has accused Trump of treason. Treason is punishable by death.

The smoke from the firestorm has blinded many from seeing the real issue. That is, the most important issue which should reign supreme. That issue is: Who in hell do these guys think they are?

Let us get basic about what these guys are saying. They are telling us they are privileged. That they deserve special consideration that you and I do not deserve. They deserve this special treatment because they once worked in big jobs in our intelligence agencies. Once.

Yes, there are some facts we should consider. One is that evidence is piling up that they may well have colluded against Trump when he was a candidate. And that they may have colluded against him after he was elected. And that some of them may have turned a blind eye to Hillary’s behavior. And that some of them clearly lied when questioned by congressional committees. And that some of them deliberately leaked classified stuff to newspapers. Because they wanted to undermine this president.

Okay, consider such. Fine. It should make us feel uneasy that people who are under such a cloud should still hold security clearances. But let us get to the real issue here. The “Who in hell” issue.

Suppose you are sacked by your employer. Like some of these guys were. Should you keep the keys to your office? OF COURSE NOT! Should you keep your access to the employer’s email system? OF COURSE NOT!

Suppose you retire or get booted from the Navy. Should you retain your security clearance? OF COURSE NOT!

This has little to do with what your new job is. You can become a janitor. You can go to work for a foreign spy agency. You can peddle books that rail against your former employer. Does NOT matter.

The issue is whether any former employee should retain privileges of this sort. OF COURSE NOT!

These birds are telling us they are privileged. They are elite. “I used to have a big government job. Therefore I am entitled to…”

The hell you are. You are a former civil servant. Former. You worked for us, the American people. You got paid. You earned a pension. Maybe you are a saint. Maybe you are a sinner. Does not matter. What matters is that you are an ex.

“But, I am more important than you minions are,” they tell us by their protests. “My former agency may want to tap my knowledge in future.” Okay. The agency can grant you special short-term clearance. If it chooses to. But you claim you are entitled to that clearance now. You are entitled because of what you used to be.

Sorry, but that does not wash. You should be treated as what you are: A former employee of the people. Former.

Thanks for your service. We hope you are not guilty of some of the accusations being flung about. If the President gets impeached over a crime and you play a role, so be it. Maybe you will become a national hero.

Meanwhile, you are not an elite. You are an ex. This is not an infringement on your First Amendment rights, as one of you claims on a tv network. This is plain old common sense. Hand over your badge please. We will file it with your security clearance. In the circular file.

PS: If you happen to be in the Cooperstown, NY area in September, come see Tales from the Empire. These are four moving plays about my family’s adventures in a rural hotel/saloon. I play the parts of many characters. One play each Friday night in September. Fenimore House Art Museum. Info at FenimoreArt.org. Tickets at Eventbrite.com.

From Tom…as in Morgan.
Find Tom on Facebook. You can write to Tom at tomasinmorgan@yahoo.com.