A Promise, Not Some Inane Pledge

With Congress and the administration so bumfuzzled about how to achieve a reasoned and rational agreement (expressly avoided using the sane and intelligent ‘compromise’ terminology) for addressing the self-imposed fiscal cliff, the American public needs to stand-up for their interests and make a promise to themselves. While “failure is not an option” on the fiscal cliff makes a nice sound-bite, I don’t really have any confidence that Congress (the Constitutionally responsible player in this game) will find a way off the cliff. Therefore, I think every voter should make a promise to their self should Congress fail yet again to do what the country needs; that is Congress must take some action to address the crisis besides inaction.

Now I also don’t believe that Congress is capable or competent enough to actually take the right actions, but I do at least expect them to try within their limited abilities to make the efforts necessary to address the nation’s issues, particularly those that affect the economy is such basic ways. Congress must decide and deliver a federal budget, tax policy and a program reform plan to resolve the budget versus spending gaps caused by their approved budget. If they don’t or can’t do that then what exactly are our Congressional representatives actually doing for you?

So what is the promise that you need to make to yourself? Well, be they Democrat or Republican (or an Independent) you need to promise to not support, fund or vote to return them to office in their respective next election cycle. You should make it abundantly clear to any party official that you come in contact with that you will not and are not going to vote for that member. It’s ok to vote and support another member of your preferred political party if you are so inclined to what to be affiliated with a political party; but not the current member.

If you do make that promise to yourself, then you should convey that promise to your current representatives in Congress; be they a member of your party or not. Just like your employers would do at your job, you should let under-performing workers know that their jobs are at risk due to poor-performance but that with a demonstration of improvement their jobs might not be at risk.

This isn’t a pledge that someone else defines and dictates to you. It’s a responsibility you have to yourself. You decide, you assess and you act. You don’t give money and power to someone else who will use your influence to their ends. It’s almost like being a free individual who is willing to participate in their democratic process.