By Philip Drucker
Sir Francis Bacon has always been one of my favorite not quite overlooked, but figures in history whose name, face and reputation are still subjects of open debate, sometimes including what appears to be wild speculation the kind of which would even today make the national Inquirer proud.
Who was Sir Francis? Well, he was by all accounts an individual of great intellect, a philosopher and later a politician, we’ll get to that later, whose work contributed to the growth and acceptance of the scientific method of discovery, the value of inductive reasoning and at least the foundations for empiricism, or, that which comes through the sensory perception being the proper gateway to understanding the nature of the universe, all, and everything.
Bacon who also believed in alchemy, the occult, was possibly responsible for placing Masonic symbols and mythology into the King James I Bible, was married but his sexual preference was for members of his own sex, and that it was Bacon who wrote all the major literary works currently attributed to William Shakespeare.
But today, it is Bacon’s career as a politician and specifically, one of his quotes that I find curiously relevant to the current political fiasco that is for all intents and purposes a coup by a slovenly unfit maniac who would be for all intents and purposes, a King.
“The zeal which begins with hypocrisy must conclude in treachery; at first it deceives, at last it betrays.” –Francis Bacon
If that isn’t an accurate description of Trump’s rise to power and his corrupt to the core administration, I don’t know what is. His latest attempt to deny the people the right to choose their president through democracy and keep himself out of the sights of creditors and prosecutors alike isn’t a betrayal of the American people of the highest order, then I don’t know what is.
There is little doubt that Sir Francis, Lord Verulam, and the 1st Viscount of St. Alban rose to immense power through his ability to navigate the choppy off your head waters of 16th Century political intrigue including playing a fairly major role in the treason trial of Lord Essex, a trial that ended in a conviction and execution.
After the reign of Elizabeth I, Bacon finds his political fortunes on the rise as James I succeeds to the throne. Eventually, Bacon is appointed to the coveted position of Lord Chancellor to the King, and then, with the ever-changing political winds in flux, everything starts to unwind with Bacon’s lifelong career as a statesman ending in disgrace.
In 1621, Bacon falls into debt, his predilection for bribery and quid pro quo exposed and he finds himself on the receiving end of an indictment for 23 counts of corruption. He is found guilty, is sentenced to pay a fine of £40,000 and spends a couple of days in the Tower of London before King James decides to remit his sentence. The worst part? Bacon is declared incapable of holding future office or forever again sitting as a member of Parliament. Could the same fate be in store for King Trump? Possibly, but probably not. Why? Because what Trump has done is far, far worse than anything Bacon did. And so, let’s talk about Treason, shall we?
Treason is unique in American jurisprudence as it is the only criminal offense defined in the US Constitution.
“Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.” - Article III Section 3
As a quick refresher course, virtually all crimes require a criminal intent, plus an overt act in furtherance of the original intent and the proximity, or nexus of the two in time and space called causation to create the target crime. Notice how Constitutional treason focuses on the specific acts of individuals? As opposed to crimes as sedition that focus more on the intent to encourage, or incite violence?
Likewise, treachery is a behavior or action whereby an individual or perhaps group, takes physical steps towards putting into motion deeds that eventually end in the betrayal of their country. A country to which they have pledged their allegiance? What happens when the actions of the President of the United States take upon these unseemly and yes, illegal at a bare minimum abuse of power qualities? Well, now we know.
Remember when Trump walked down the golden escalator to the cheers of paid actors? And the zeal with which he and his followers (good intentions or otherwise) displayed through the Republican debates and convention? It was all a pack of lies, a deception that we now know continues to this day in an endless charade of hypocrisy, by his royal highness, through his crime ridden family, and to his supporters at all levels of the government. All ending in nothing short than a series of acts all of which ended in the greatest betrayal in history to America, to We, the People. See how that works? Nifty, huh?
What Trump has done, and continues to do is plot, plan, and take steps toward overturning the results of a legitimate election in a democracy. This is not speculative, it is empirically (thought I’d throw that in there) accurate and true, and certainly not democratic. These are the actions of a fascist, a dictator, of a traitor who would deny the people he took an oath to serve, the basic rights to free elections in a democracy.
This is how Generalissimo Trump and his Cult 45 out of their minds, often heavily armed MAGA army (is this a time of war?) of so-called 2nd Amendment patriots are/were going to make American great again? Now, by disenfranchising 81,283,485 voters who sort of what, casually, mistakenly, voted for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris? By “finding” 11,780 non-existent votes? And what of the eight million less voters who voted for a tyrant who now claim they have been “disenfranchised” by election fraud that does not exist? For these idiots and imbeciles, here is a word for you that every true American understands, you lost an election, that makes you losers and you need to get over yourselves for your misguided gambit did not pay off.
At best, you slowed down events that should have already taken place. The move to economic parity, green, renewable energy, racial justice and yes, because of you, a far too long delayed return to the American dream. I would like to think that some of you would see that 50 years of Reagan voodoo trickle down poverty economics have not worked.
Unless of course you realize the goal was to make the rich richer, the poor poorer to the point of destroying the middle class, the very persons who truly made America great, and will again, once we kick what is left of your sorry racist, bigoted, DEPLORABLE asses out of all government “service” high, low and in-between. It’s coming and that means you are going.
The Constitution does not specify any penalty for treason. With a few restrictions related to taxes and blood, it allows for Congress to set the penalties as it sees fit. However, the Federal criminal statute for treason has no such ambiguity.
18 U.S. Code § 2381 - Treason
“Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.”
Zeal? Hypocrisy? Treachery? Deception? Betrayal? Aren’t you tired of it all? Or, are you still in the deceit phase? Think about it, Sir Francis has been right so far and there is by my account only one or two shoes left to drop. Through the hole in the gallows at the end of a rope. Treason is such an ugly word. Now you know why. Oh, and the Shakespeare thing? Probably not.
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