Michael1942's Blog

Chasing the dream has now become a struggle that exacerbates and frustrates most of us. This upward push for everyday living by most Americans (voters) seems to be lost to the people we have elected to represent us in many ways. We have all heard the homilies and nodding agreement from politicians when asked or confronted but hardly ever heard the truth. As children, we were shielded from some truths by our parents or other adults but at some point, as we matured that halted or so we thought. Our elected politicians, our managers and sometimes relatives still attempt to present a different face on issues rather than lay it on the line and let us decide what is right in our minds. It must be remembered that our representatives are paid by the people they are supposed to represent through the taxes we reluctantly pay. As an aside: Many European countries pay higher taxes than we do and still prosper- perhaps they have better leaders or is it that they take more interest in what their elected members do?  We work hard for our money and we deserve to have a better return on that investment (taxes).

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The past 10 – 15 years our 500 plus congressional seat fillers have engaged in “GET EVEN POLITICS”. This is enacting rules and laws that enhance the power of the majority party to move their agenda forward with no regard to future use and the effect on ALL voters. Currently, after judgeships being withheld over the past 15-20 years of political party power changes there have been changes that have enabled some unqualified to minimally qualified Judges to be appointed seemingly along party lines. This has set up a system of justice where injustice is growing and even rampant in some cases. I have heard folks say we need term limits, while this is an option but not one that would ever be taken up by existing and near future members of Congress. This leaves the issue if term limits to the voters. To paraphrase “Smokey The Bear”, “only you can install term limits”! Thinking about the job of a member of Congress: there are no mandatory retirement terms, the pay is pretty good, the future employment opportunities after even 1 term are pretty good, the retirement after 15 to 20 years in office are awesome and the healthcare is great. If we add in the office perks, this is a pretty sweet job. With all of this being said, the only check on poor performing members is the vote and unless we pay attention to their actions we will be destined to have the same “GET EVEN POLITICS” which defeats the idea of a free political system. Congress is the only check we have on a poor administration no matter which party the leader heads aside from our vote. Learn who is representing you and how well they’re doing it.

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