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.

Run For Congress?

Since my senior year in high school, Robert 'Bud' Cramer has represented the 5th district of Alabama in Congress. Just recently he announced he would NOT seek re-election so now there is a lot of talk of other 'career politicians' wanting to make a bid to fill his seat.

Maybe I should throw my hat in the ring as well?

One might wonder what qualifications I have. That's a fair question. The answer is that I am MORE THAN QUALIFIED since I well exceed the three requirements.

1) You have to be at least 25. Check!
2) You have to live in the state you represent. I'm 2-for-2 so far...
3) You have to be a U.S. citizen. Looks like I'm batting a thousand!

So if elected to the House of Representatives, what would I do?

In no particular order...

1) This country's tax system is beyond broken. It doesn't need tweaking and it doesn't need fixing. It needs to be abolished and replaced with the FairTax.

2) I would introduce legistation to repeal the 17th amendment. Back in the day, senators were elected by your state legislatures. The 17th amendment did away with that and now you vote directly for your senators.

3) I would vote NO on every bill that I couldn't read from beginning to end in less than 10 minutes.

4) I would vote NO on every bill that had a provision in it that wasn't specifically enumerated as a function of the federal government.

5) Every bill must show where in the Constitution it is a function of the federal government. Otherwise, the 10th amendment applies and it gets a 'no' vote.

6) I would introduce the 'Equal Treatment Bill' which would state that what the federal government does for one citizen it must do for ALL citizens. Likewise, what it doesn't do for one citizen it must not do for any citizen.

Those are six things just off the top of my head... but I think it's a good start...