PET PEEVES: Politicians
Dennis Copson
April 25, 2008
Politicians may be my number one pet peeve! How about you? Politicians really get my blood boiling as I watch them parade about, in Washington especially, doing everything possible for themselves and almost nothing for me. It is a charade and one I am increasingly ´peeved´ about.
We elect these representatives, locally and nationally, to do the peoples´ business. Remember, they run for office on that promise. They take an oath to that effect. Why do they turn to instant muck once in office? I have no explanation except the ego thing. Do you?
Are you aware that our United States Congress/Senate, elected officials numbering well over five hundred, are paid exorbitant salaries and are rewarded with incomprehensibly generous benefits while having an approval rating of slightly over 20% with the American people. (If any business had that kind of acceptance rating they´d be out of business in no time!) We have no confidence they are doing our work, accomplishing what needs to be done, nor, in fact, doing anything worthwhile. In many instances, they may just be acting contrary to how they should be.
The partisan bickering and squabbling which is so prevalent in today´s national government is disgusting. Each party wants to control what is done or not done, what is in their best interest not our country´s. This must stop – now! The Democrats promised a better government last year when they basically assumed power in our nation´s capital. That hasn´t happened. In fact, things have only gotten worse. Partisanship rules all. There is neither statesmanship nor the spirit of negotiation and compromise when needed to move our nation´s business forward, to solve pressing national problems, and to resolve crisis items. All we get is unfulfilled promises and more of the same - if not worse - government.
How did this happen? Why do we allow it to continue? Can we not change this horrible performance? "Yes we can", as Obama might say! (Or was that Deval?) Let´s just do it.
Let´s let them know that such things as unfettered pork barrel spending are no longer tolerable. And, such acts as being caught stashing bribe money in your freezer while you continue to serve in Congress is a no - no! Let´s tell them in no uncertain terms that fiddling around with call girls is forbidden and will not be tolerated. Let´s tell them we are watching – closely – what they do or don´t do and their actions or lack thereof will be reflected in our vote next time around.
Let´s tell our political aspirants we are noting their campaign promises and will hold them to what they say to get themselves elected, much of which is nonsense and will never be implemented. And, I suspect, they know that. Let´s hold them accountable for their words in the heat of the campaign battles. Let´s not be fooled by their baseless promises and claims lest we be disappointed once again.
So - called election years only exaggerate the problem. I see nothing positive being done in election years – which have now, in national Presidential elections, turned into two years? Don´t know about you, but I tired of this political season way long ago. It may cost more than a billion dollars to elect a President this time around. The obscene amounts being raised and spent is beyond comprehension of the average American.
Let´s demand with no uncertainty what we expect our elected officials to do and accept nothing less. Write them, call them, bug them! They should respond to what we want them to do. Otherwise, they should be told, via the ballot box, "Out you go! No lifelong office for you!"
"Government is too big and too important to be left to the politicians." – Chester Bowles
We elect these representatives, locally and nationally, to do the peoples´ business. Remember, they run for office on that promise. They take an oath to that effect. Why do they turn to instant muck once in office? I have no explanation except the ego thing. Do you?
Are you aware that our United States Congress/Senate, elected officials numbering well over five hundred, are paid exorbitant salaries and are rewarded with incomprehensibly generous benefits while having an approval rating of slightly over 20% with the American people. (If any business had that kind of acceptance rating they´d be out of business in no time!) We have no confidence they are doing our work, accomplishing what needs to be done, nor, in fact, doing anything worthwhile. In many instances, they may just be acting contrary to how they should be.
The partisan bickering and squabbling which is so prevalent in today´s national government is disgusting. Each party wants to control what is done or not done, what is in their best interest not our country´s. This must stop – now! The Democrats promised a better government last year when they basically assumed power in our nation´s capital. That hasn´t happened. In fact, things have only gotten worse. Partisanship rules all. There is neither statesmanship nor the spirit of negotiation and compromise when needed to move our nation´s business forward, to solve pressing national problems, and to resolve crisis items. All we get is unfulfilled promises and more of the same - if not worse - government.
How did this happen? Why do we allow it to continue? Can we not change this horrible performance? "Yes we can", as Obama might say! (Or was that Deval?) Let´s just do it.
Let´s let them know that such things as unfettered pork barrel spending are no longer tolerable. And, such acts as being caught stashing bribe money in your freezer while you continue to serve in Congress is a no - no! Let´s tell them in no uncertain terms that fiddling around with call girls is forbidden and will not be tolerated. Let´s tell them we are watching – closely – what they do or don´t do and their actions or lack thereof will be reflected in our vote next time around.
Let´s tell our political aspirants we are noting their campaign promises and will hold them to what they say to get themselves elected, much of which is nonsense and will never be implemented. And, I suspect, they know that. Let´s hold them accountable for their words in the heat of the campaign battles. Let´s not be fooled by their baseless promises and claims lest we be disappointed once again.
So - called election years only exaggerate the problem. I see nothing positive being done in election years – which have now, in national Presidential elections, turned into two years? Don´t know about you, but I tired of this political season way long ago. It may cost more than a billion dollars to elect a President this time around. The obscene amounts being raised and spent is beyond comprehension of the average American.
Let´s demand with no uncertainty what we expect our elected officials to do and accept nothing less. Write them, call them, bug them! They should respond to what we want them to do. Otherwise, they should be told, via the ballot box, "Out you go! No lifelong office for you!"
"Government is too big and too important to be left to the politicians." – Chester Bowles
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