It is time to change things-for the better

Thinking people, from all persuasions, have commented that it does not really matter who we elect as the outcome is always the same, one party does it a little faster or slower than the other. Buckets of ink have been used to write about this question; how come someone goes to Washington with fixed determination to make changes in the system only to become part of the very system and a defender of the status quo.? Just look at our current budget crisis or the Obamacare debacle. Even though much of this is fresh legislative ink, the champions of lower taxes, less government and reduced regulatory intrusion have balked at doing what they said they would do when they were swept into office in November.

I do not fault the newly elected Republicans but rather, their long time leadership. They have grown fond of the benefits of their offices and coyly play both sides and change very little. They catch media heat regardless of their activities but feel politically safer simply massaging the newly passed legislation with minor adjustments that are more compatible to their expressed views. So like others I wonder why this occurs. It certainly seems that they assume that they know better than the electorate and are much like the "Reality TV" shows that portray drama for the viewer because the producers have said it makes "good TV". I am tired of "good TV" and think we need see some changes in all parties and remove all long time officials.

Pundits might have you believe that the elected officials are corrupted by the special interest money that flows into their re-elction coffers. It think that is a secondary influence. Our elected officials have been feather-bedding their positions for years. How many employers provide full, life-time benefits and income for a working tenure of as little as 2 years and a a work year that is only 6-8 months in actual length? How many jobs permit you to be in charge of a prominent committee and then not hold hearings or choose not to show up during votes? Welcome to the Congress of the United States, as it has been crafted by the incumbents of both parties. It is time that "We the People" take this bicameral house back and limit the enrichment these folks receive. When a CEO of a public company leaves and is awarded a "golden parachute", elected folks talk about how the financial rewards are not fair and out of proportion to the benefits awarded "regular employees" in the firm. The suffer from the "pot-kettle" syndrome when they bluster and fume.

Let's make it a rule that these folks serve us and when they are removed from office, because they did not please us, they have to get a real job and their income and benefit package ends.

You might imagine that they would stay very attuned to the needs and wants of the people and less prone to think they are "smarter" and "more informed" than "We the People". When they cavalierly spend our money in their budgetary sessions and then shrug their shoulders because they voted for unpopular policies that lead to their removal, they do not care and remain out of touch even after the election has unseated them, because they are still having us pay their salaries, healthcare and many of their travel perks. They then have the very corporations they condemned hire them to sit on boards and serve in other capacities so they continue to out earn the electorate...so may be they have a point when they look at us and figure they are "smarter" than we are because they keep living off of our industry and incomes.