(Melchizedek Communique, MC021710) There are people who buy stuff and never open the package. They just love to shop, that's all. Some of them seek elected office so they can go shopping big-time. Being elected lets them spend way more when they go shopping.

"Shopping Is A Feeling." [1] The thrill is in the shopping itself. In Congress, both parties enjoy the shopping experience. The masculine shopping element prefers "macho" purchases, like tanks and missiles. The feminine element, "the Gatherers", favors hoarding us, to keep us all safe (supposedly). They spend on programs designed to attach innumerable apron strings to us all. But it doesn't matter if what they buy is any good: they just love to shop, that's all.

And so there is the problem of some shopaholics having a pronounced tendency to enter politics. This applies at the local level, as well as in Washington, DC.

Later, after the shopping binge is over, there are reports: "Government Bought Stupid Stuff". This is like the spouse being scolded by the husband: "Honey, why did you buy this, for Heavens sake!"

Presidents are like the Shopper-in-Chief. They are always appearing in the news, boasting about their latest shopping expense and how wise it is. But later, reports appear: "Much touted purchase riddled with boondoggles, waste."

Bill Talen (image shown), an out-of-work actor, moved to New York City in 1994. There, he met his wife, Savitri Durkee, a dancer and playwright. Together they formed The Church of Stop Shopping. A core group of congregants in Reverend Billy's flock formed a church choir numbering about 25 souls. The choir rehearses for hours each week. Together with Billy and his wife, they carry the Word to various corporate retail establishments. [2] But will Reverend Billy, obviously a man ahead of his time, someday carry the Word to Washington, DC?

Reverend Billy and his Church of Stop Shopping have carried their message into Wal-Mart where they formed a shopping cart "Conga line". [2] Melchizedek Communique has previously reported wild "Conga line" parties at the White House. [3] Homeless persons frequently use shopping carts in their wanderings. What if the homeless of Washington, DC were to congregate in front of the White House and form their own shopping cart Conga line? Would President Obama toss them some Wagyu beef? Or would he just give them a tuna recipe? (Background: "Cooking With Professor Obama", http://www.shout.net/~bigred/mc021110.html)

In 2005, Reverend Billy suggested that the world has already ended, only we didn't notice it. Noticed now is a record drop in foreign holdings of U.S. Treasury bills in December. It is thought the U.S. government might have to pay higher interest rates on its debt. [4] The world of unlimited credit may have ended, only we didn't notice it. Could this be the true reason certain shopaholic congresspersons have decided not to seek re-election?

------- Notes -------
[1] "Shopping Is A Feeling", from the movie "True Stories", directed by David Byrne
[2] "Reverend Billy's Unholy War," by Jonathan Dee. The New York Times Magazine, 8/22/04.
[3] "Wild Conga Lines at White House!", Melchizedek Communique, Feb. 8, 2010
http://www.shout.net/~bigred/mc020810.html
[4] "Foreigners cut Treasury stakes; rates could rise", by Martin Crutsinger and Bernard Condon. AP, Feb. 16, 2010