Another blistering day here in Texas and yet still a great day in America, which isn't larger than Texas in spite of what many Texans think. We as a country just celebrated our 233rd birthday and now we're all back at work.
And boy, do we work. Most of us watch our dollars and sometimes we do without that something extra 'just in case'. Many of us work harder at our jobs than ever before in the belief no one lays off a hard worker. Some, of course, continue to spend wildly and have a sense of entitlement with their employment, and hopefully they won't be too shocked to discover one day they haven't a job since the company had to rid itself of all of the deadwood and that 'entitlement' is actually useless in a real world.
We work, we save what we can, we pay our bills (especially our credit card bills) by pressing a little harder on our checks when we sign them (or typing a little harder if we pay online), and in the end we come to realize our employees in Washington have no need to do any of the 'sacrifice' we as a nation have been asked for. Some of us don't know about it, and those who do for the most part don't think about it since to think about it gets us angry all over again.
And why? Why would we, the taxpayers and employers of the gang in Washington, be angry? We pay our taxes, we vote (hopefully), we participate when we can and we pledge ourselves to help America in any way we are able. We can and will do anything this country asks of us, and so why should we be angry?
Perhaps we feel our employees in Washington have lost sight of the real world and instead live in the 'bubble within the beltway'. Perhaps they feel they are there to help themselves and not their constituents, or perhaps it is something as simple as incompetence.
Incompetence is rarely mentioned when talking about senators and representatives (and, in some cases, presidents), and I think it is because we as a nation believe we are collectively too smart to hire someone (or elect someone) who is an idiot. I know from personal experience the shock that comes with voting for someone who turns out to be either incompetent or the exact opposite of what was represented. And no, I didn't get angry so much as get . . . apathetic. I had to get over it and not let it taint the process, and I finally did. And yes, sure, this happens all of the time, and the important thing to ask is this:
Do we learn from our mistakes?
If we elect someone who is incompetent, do we repeat the same mistake just to save face? To perhaps think there is no alternative (where there is always an alternative to incompetence). And when we repeat the same mistake, or repeat the same 'party line' even though it might ring hollow, do we get angry? And that anger is really directed at ourselves, is it not? Yet we are too smart to make these kind of mistakes over and over again (we tell ourselves), so we direct our anger outward: at another poliical party, at home, at work, etc.
We have plenty of reason to be angry, of course. Yet we have plenty to hope about as well since ultimately everyone in Washington must answer to us, the people. If they don't listen is it because they are not hearing us?
Or is it because we are not holding them accountable and asking the right questions?
A fair assessment about how anger should be handled regarding our employees in that 'sacred beltway.' I like how this article presents a rational argument without a hint of anger and malice. It states an objective opinion. Thanks for that, Mike!
» left by Ken McCreless from Event Horizon (206 days 16 hours ago.)
I believe the last line in your piece holds the key. The politicians, most if not all, are millionaires- old money has never had to wonder how the mortgage was going to be paid.
You're right about the old money. And the newer ones, those who perhaps don't care about money (which would be rare, I know), care too much about power. Same result: we the people left holding the bag and scratching our heads.
I thought it was hilarious when you wrote we think we are too smart to elect an idiot—to me, a very funny line and also true.I also see a lot of anger and maybe it is that we are not asking the right questions from our leaders and then not really holding them accountable. Great hypothesis!
We really do think we are so smart as a people, and yet we let those who are in power use and abuse that power (and us) without consequence. Oh sure, the odd ones get caught every now and then doing something really stupid, but for the most part the shenanigans aren't investigated. Why? Maybe because those who would do the investigating are involved in their own shenanigans.
» left by sue thom from nj (205 days 2 hours ago.)
hi michael,
i did not pick one idiot, since i never heard him complete a sentence properly, or look anyone in the eye. i think our president now has the scruples to make some positive changes, although, he was left holding a pretty deep bag.
with a son in the air force, and a daughter who has joined the army, what goes on in washington is very important to me.
apathy? i have none. expectations? yes, i must admit, i do have some very heavy and positive expectations.
i pray all wars are ceased and we men and women can finally figure out that war was never the answer to begin with.
I agree this president seems to have what it takes, if only he is allowed to use it. Sure he was left holding a pretty big bag, but let's remember he is also following the trap of power: if I have more I can do more. I just hope he remembers he is the American president.
Thanks for the comments. And I also thank your children for their service.
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