Let’s Try Something Different – Smart Politicians

Many Americans are confronted with a persistent, periodic and pernicious problem: who to vote for. Most of those assailed by this dilemma of choosing between the lesser of two evils are non-aligned Independent voters. Although there are even some amongst the ranks of the Democratic and Republican parties’ faithful, that actually think before they vote, that are just as confounded and perplexed about whom to support.

There are a number of reasons contributing to this consternation of the electorate, not limited to: distortions and lies in negative campaign ads; pathetic and paltry attempts by the news media to scrutinize the campaigns of either encumbering party; or the enfeebled, addle pated, and intellectually challenged candidates. With this dearth of worthy aspirants to the highest offices of our nation, we can hardly blame the majority of Americans from being disenchanted with the choices they must make among the insipid and misguided standard-bearers of their respective parties.

While it is far too late in this election period to seek out better choices, to quest for worthier representatives; perhaps there is a lesson to be gained from the bleak political landscape we travel. After our populace is plagued by the consequences wrought by these legislative mites, and their myopic societal visions weave their defective governmental fabric; we will have the opportunity viewing the on-going travesty as our American tapestry unravels into another season of self-serving, special interest driven, unreasoned congressional misrepresentation. Whether the Democrats retain majorities in the House and/or Senate, or the Republicans gain a plurality in either; the vitriolic and divisive uncompromising posturing of each partisan tribe will ensure that the American people will be disregarded in favor of power politics and extremist policies. From this corrosive and poisonous atmosphere, our citizenry must find an antidote to this dysfunctional dichotomy of a free society where neither the left nor the right seems to comprehend the basic principles our Founding Fathers conceived of in the establishment of our constitutional democracy.

Recognizing the need for a rebirth of American values in our government, our politicians and particularly our political parties; the independent voters of America, who control the outcome of our elections, need to look for candidates that are worthy of their votes. When polled prior to the elections, if neither party’s candidate measures up then they need to say they will choose from an alternative party but not the Democratic or Republican incompetents endorsed by the cultish rabble of their respective party members. There is only one way to evolve these pandering parties into organizations that strive to serve the American people, and that is to apply the ‘survival of the fittest’ principle to them. The Parties can adapt and respond to the needs of the independent voters; or they can go the way of other dead-end organisms unable to meet the challenges of their new environment.

What qualities should we seek in viable political candidates? Well, if you were hiring someone to work for you in a position that required sound and reasoned judgment, and who was going to determine how to establish the approaches that we would follow to achieve our common interests and goals; then I would advocate that you look for someone who you think is actually smarter than you are. What business man would consciously hire someone for such a job that they think is less qualified than they themselves would be? Would you really want someone who is just able to understand the world and issues as well as yourself? If so, then you have the results of your criteria. The lagging economy, the loss of status and prestige in the world, the deterioration of our national infrastructure, and the decline in America’s standard of living are the fruits of your quality of leaders.

To return America to a strong, vibrant and prospering society we need leaders with sufficient knowledge to know what they do not understand, to see the errors of their (and their parties’ past), and to put the interest of the country and its people before their own. In other words, we need politicians that are nothing like the kind we have today. We need persons who can speak intelligently and meaningfully about the issues that confront us, and not that can barely nor accurately recite the meaningless sound-bite of the day given them by their handlers. We need American leaders, not the Democratic and Republican sophists we are shackled with intent on following some self-delusional path to paradise. In truth, we need the ‘best and brightest’ from amongst us to step up to the task of dealing with our real problems and in protecting our rights and freedom from those who would limit them.

Our nation was founded upon the exceptional efforts that our forefathers made; it will not be preserved by the mundane squabbling of politicians bought and paid for by the highest bidders.