Regardless of whether our elected officials are Republican, Democrat, Independent, Socialist, Green, Libertarian, Whig, or Organic (just checking to see if you’re listening); we need representation in Washington and we need that representation to work together. We send our representatives to Washington to serve in the House, the Senate, and the White House to work together to set policy and govern the country; not to divvy up into two sides and then loom over every topic from an unapproachable point of view.
Each representative sent to Washington is sent there to represent the people they are elected to represent; pretty simple huh? But what has been lost in Washington is the ability to work together to make decisions and compromises that make legislation possible to run the country. Tip O’Neil and Ronald Reagan had it. Newt Gingrich and Bill Clinton had it. But since 2000 that whole spirit of bi-partisanship has been lost. Well we need to find it again.
We elect our representatives based on the majority opinion of the electorate. Then those people go to Washington to make legislation based on those same principles and beliefs they were elected on. Amazing enough you can be true to those ideas and beliefs and still work together with those of differing beliefs and accomplish the necessary business of the country; a concept that has been lost for the last 12 years.
Take the Fiscal Cliff. Does anyone really understand it or have we just labeled it as such so both sides in Washington can use the title to their benefit and scare the American Public. So let’s look at the facts.
1. No one has a specific definition of the problem
2. No one had a specific plan or even a proposal.
3. No one wants to be a leader and the first start the discussion by talking in specifics.
4. No one wants to address tax reform.
5. No one wants to address entitlement reforms.
6. Medicare will cost us $42 trillion over the next decade; no one wants to address its reform.
7. No one even wants to have an open door meeting as promised.
8. AND NO – WE CANNOT KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AGAIN.
On January 1st the Bush Tax-Cuts will sunset (they were supposed to in 2009) and we will all be paying higher taxes; EVERYONE has to pay higher taxes. I am not crazy about that idea, but maybe this is what we all need to make the country realize we need real tax reform.
On January 1st there will be huge reductions to the budget (OK not huge but there will be significant cuts) that will affect anyone who receives government (i.e. Tax-Payer) sponsored entitlements. Of course that will have a positive effect on the deficits our federal government is racking up, but at what cost and for what reason?
Because those “Responsible” people we send to Washington keep holding to their partisan mantras and rather than work together for the betterment of the nation, they still want to work separate for the betterment of their parties. But who’s really to blame?
UMMMMMMMM…..US….ALL OF US!!
That’s right, we had a chance to make changes this year and we instead chose to send practically the exact same people back to Washington; the same House, the same Senate, and the same President.
Well we better start paying attention to what is actually going on in Washington and who is actually doing what. We have two more years just like the last two and then we have another election. The voters made their choice in support of the status quo on Election Day; now those elected to office need t make a choice; two more years of the same and a more outraged electorate, or they work together to make something happen.
And You – The Voter!! Will you pay attention and figure out how it works and let your voice be heard; or will you once again sit on your laurels and wait until there is even less left of this once great country. The choice is yours to make and yours to live with.
Pay attention, be active, and make a difference.
Maybe our leaders should do the same!
Bill
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