Getting What We Ask For

In a recent conversation about politics with Mom, she expressed how she feels (and I'm sure how other of millions of Americans feel) about the state of affairs with the folks in D.C. and the upcoming presidential election.

Paraphrasing a 10 minute conversation into one sentence: 'All politicians are crooks, aren't worth spit and need to be voted out.'

I'm fairly certain that she isn't the only one who feels that way. In fact, if you asked a million voters if they agreed with that above statement, I think you'd get 85% in agreement.

So why do the same yahoos keep getting elected? Is it because the public feels the 'other guys' don't stand a chance?

Here's my theory on what it takes to get elected to higher level public office (in order of importance):

1) First and foremost, the candidate must either be a Republican or Democrat. If the person doesn't have an 'R' or a 'D' by their name, they can hang it up. The public is so hung up on those two parties, that anybody else is considered 'fringe' (especially by the press) and can't be taken seriously. It's a two-horse race & it's a crying shame.

2) The candidate must be fit & attractive. Newsflash: Ugly people don't get elected. If the individual can't make the cover of GQ, he won't get the votes. Views and positions on the important matters don't amount to a hill of beans yet. Oh sure... you say you'd vote for someone based on their qualifications and whatnot, but that's a lie you're telling yourself so you can sleep at night. Can you imagine if FDR were around today running for office? A guy in a wheelchair?! 'What would that say to the leaders of other countries if our president couldn't walk? We'd be attacked!' Sad but true.

3) The candidate must be a decent public speaker. You're allowed to stumble on occassion and flub a word or 3 here and there, but you must be able to win the crowd with a mic in hand. If you can't, you're doomed.

These are my opinions of course... but like with most everything else on my blog... I'm right.

Sadly, what we want and say we want are very different. We get exactly what we ask for.