Several months ago a friend of mine gave me a couple of bumper stickers he had custom-made that said something to the effect, “Vote Them All Out”. I can’t quote directly from the sticker, because I gave them away. I didn’t keep them for two reasons; one, I thought the message was the wrong one; and two, I don’t put bumber stickers on my car. I thanked him and told him why I wouldn’t use them. He forgave me for the second reason, but not quite for the first. To this day, he insists we should vote them all out.
Well, if he’s reading this, I want to let him know that I admit to being wrong. You see, at the time I thought throwing them all out was a bit excessive. After all, we need to have someone in office with a little experience. Furthermore, I live in that part of Maryland represented by Congressman Roscoe Bartlett, and I think he’s a good man for the job. I was also thinking of John McCain who I think is the kind of Senator we want to keep in office.
On further reflection, however, I’ve come to the conclusion that my friend is right. You see, sometimes it’s necessary to inflict collateral damage to set things straight. I’m sure there are others besides Bartlett and McCain who deserve continuance in office, but it’s unfortunate that we can’t accomodate them. You see, while watching and participating in the legislative process over the last several months I’ve came to the conclusion that far too many elected officials forgot just who they represent. I include Republicans along with Democrats. Democrats chose to call us Nazis for participating in tea parties, and, when they held the majority, Republicans abandoned their principles and spent us into financial oblivion. Both cannot be forgiven, and require a clean sweep. We must send a very strong message; one that cannot be misunderstood. A clean sweep would let everyone know that we demand, and will get, representatives that truly understand who they represesent. It’s time for Americans to re-take control of America.
I have an overriding fear with which I have great difficulty. Several months ago, I wrote an article on these pages wherein I mentioned reading a theory that politics sometimes swings from one side to the other with excessive force. I borrowed that theory from a forgotten author who observed that excessive shifts in American politics to one side are followed by even greater shifts to the other. The author expressed concern that the Bush Adminstration, which was widely considered as ultra-conservative, would be followed by an administration excessively ultra-liberal. That’s exactly what happened, and it leaves me worried about what might happen next.
I remind readers that I have taken the position that the majority of Americans are neither extreme right nor extreme left. In my opinion, a move to the right that equals or exceeds the move to the left represented by Obama, Pelosi and Reid would be devastating to this country. We need to find candidates who represent the majority view of America. We need people who have strong principles and who are unwilling to compromise them for politics. We need a strong leader who has no ties with the existing establishment, and who has no interest other than a great America. This is the challenge of 2010.
Sustained mass frustration, the kind that forms when people feel helpless to improve and control their lives, is now feeding feelings of anger in this country. The intensity of that anger at next election time is likely to determine how far the political pendulum will swing. All things considered, I suspect that voters shall seek relief from these strong emotions by electing moderate, middle-of-the-road candidates. In any case, a “clean sweep” is direly needed. So is another party.
Comment by George Morgan — January 11, 2010 @ 11:05 AM
The current leadership is making a very, very strong argument for term limits. I think it should be given serious consideration, but what politician is going to vote away their excellent pension, benefit package and spot on the Sunday talk shows?
Comment by Jim Mumma — January 11, 2010 @ 11:57 AM
you wrote…”We need a strong leader who has no ties with the existing establishment, and who has no interest other than a great America. This is the challenge of 2010.”
Won’t happen anytime soon. Good leaders like that stay in the private sector and make lots of money. They figure that it’s just not worth the pain of bureaucracy, media barrage, and compromise of ideals to go into public office. When you think about it, why would you run for office unless you had a personal agenda or were a pawn for some powerful interest? The machine of government is too big to overcome. by the time candidates reach the national level, they’ve already been “bought.”
I too hope for a revolution you describe to occur, but i don’t think the public is that smart. They take their cues from Fox or MSNBC or reality TV or whatever media trash happens to have their attention at the time. They’ve lost their ability to put together one rational thought on their own. I can’t tell you the number of people i talk with who voted for Obama and now say they had no idea he would be so leftist and what a mistake they made. I think, “really?” “no idea at all?” “seriously?”
Comment by Brian — January 11, 2010 @ 3:23 PM
I agree that there should be another party. The two party system forces many people to check a box that most closely resembles their beliefs, but most Americans cannot be constrained as such. As you say, “neither extreme right nor extreme left”, so it’s a shame that more people don’t vote for the Independent candidates.
Comment by Lindsay Elder — January 11, 2010 @ 10:56 PM