Republicans – Common Sense https://commonsenseworld.com Thoughts on Politics and Life Sun, 05 Feb 2017 19:37:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.4.32 https://commonsenseworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/cropped-icon-32x32.png Republicans – Common Sense https://commonsenseworld.com 32 32 Our Government Is Worthless https://commonsenseworld.com/our-government-is-worthless/ https://commonsenseworld.com/our-government-is-worthless/#comments Mon, 04 Aug 2008 05:37:36 +0000 http://commonsenseworld.com/?p=454 In 2006, voters turned out the Republican majority that had turned Congressinto a rubber-stamping machine for an idiot president. Their hope-no, their insistence- that our government stop the abuses of power perpetrated by an executive branch run amok, gave Democrats a slim majority in the Senate and a slightly larger majority in the House. The 2006 elections also swept into power this nations first female Speaker of the House-an historical event that in retrospect is more historical not for the gender barrier that had been broken, but for the total inadequacy displayed the entire Demcoratic leadership in the face of voter angst and demand for a changed course for this country.

So, what has the 110th Congress accomplished? Not a whole hell of a lot that’s been good. They have capitulated to the executive branch on all things related to the Iraq War, including belatedly excusing some of the most egregious lapses of legal action ever undertaken by a president and his administration. They have continued to allow unfettered waste of taxpayer dollars, they have emboldened our Lunatic-in-Chief in his quest to spread his “democracy building project” into Iran, and they have helped create this country’s largest ever deficit.

But wait- they haven’t done nothing…

Out of a total 260 laws this Congress has passed, 74 separate laws that had the effectof them were the naming of post offices. And they’ve been very busy passing non-binding resolutions, including one that declared soil an “essential resource” and another to congratulate the UC-Irvine volleyball team.

From Parade Magazine:

Rep. John Shimkus (R., Ill.) introduced a resolution to recognize June 30 as National Corvette Day. “It’s probably not the best use of our time,” he says, “but we have to do something. These resolutions make it look like we’re working.”

Shimkus blames the Democrats for failing to introduce more substantive legislation. Democrats, in turn, blame Republicans for blocking key votes, contending that Senate Republicans have attempted a record number of filibusters this session.

Enough of this bullshit already! We tossed out the Republicans for (among the many things) driving this nation into the wallets of corporate war profiteers and energy barons. We should toss the damn Democrats now too for being such worthless enablers.

Too bad the two parties have so successfully eliminated any chance of other parties breaking their do-nothing monopoly. What this government needs is an enema! Or at the very least a new breed of politicians with a spine, a sense of stewardship and service, and who aren’t for sale to the highest bidder.

 (cross psoted at Bring It On!)

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Iowans Buck Media Favorites, Forego "Frontrunners" And Think For Themselves https://commonsenseworld.com/iowans-buck-media-favorites-forego-frontrunners-and-think-for-themselves/ https://commonsenseworld.com/iowans-buck-media-favorites-forego-frontrunners-and-think-for-themselves/#respond Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:41:00 +0000 http://annafiltest.wordpress.com/2008/01/04/iowans-buck-media-favorites-forego-frontrunners-and-think-for-themselves/ In the first presidential primary of 2008, Iowans have sent a message to the MSM, their fellow Americans, and the candidates. That message: Don’t tell US who to vote for! We’ll make up our own minds, thank you.

For the last year, the MSM has been non-stop in promoting its version of the general election: Clinton vs. Guiliani. Sure, other candidates have gotten their face time and exposure, but by and large, ever since they announced their candidacies, Clinton and Guiliani have “been the ones to beat,” at least so far as the media has been concerned. In Iowa at least, the media and the people are not necessarily of the same mind.

Selecting Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee in their primary caucus, Iowa pushed Clinton into 3rd place on the Democrat side of things and Guiliani down to 6th, after Ron Paul even, on the Republican ticket. Perhaps the days of media crowned politicians may finally be coming to an end? Too early to tell, but the signs from Iowa are encouraging.

For Democrats, Iowans chose Obama with 38% of the votes, followed by Edwards with 30% and Hillary with 29%. Republicans gave Huckabee a similar margin with 34% of the votes over Romney’s 25% and McCain and Thompson tying with 13% each.

These returns hold some promise for me personally. Promise in that Americans are finally seeming to come out of their self-induced apathy and are taking an active role in their government. If the 2006 mid-term elections were meant to be a wake-up call to the GOP and the president, then 2008 may well be a wake-up call to all the politicians. Clearly voters are less than happy with the path taken by the Democratic majority in Congress, at least as unhappy as with the GOP led debacle of the last 6 years. Their demand for change has gone unheard and unmet by the politicians and this primary makes it more clear than ever that status quo doesn’t cut it anymore.

Clinton and Guiliani are of the same mold as all the leadership in place now. Obama, Edwards, Huckabee and Romney at least appear to Iowans to show promise of a new direction for America, and voters of both parties are grabbing at that chance.

I like Obama and Edwards, much more than I do Clinton. So from a liberal perspective, I agree with Iowans tonight. And while I think that Huckabee is too religiously oriented for my taste, the last time we had an Arkansan in the White House, things weren’t all that bad.

Of course, one primary does not make a nomination, but already Dodd and Biden are throwing in the towel, and more are sure to follow in the coming days and weeks. The battle is just beginning, and with New Hampshire just ahead, this thing is wide open. But I’m glad to see that the first official contest wasn’t a coronation of media frontrunners or politicians who think they are entitled to and deserve the top job just because “it’s their turn and they’ve earned it.”

(cross posted at Bring It On!)

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Study Says ’06 Democratic Sweep of Congress Fueled By Converted Republican Voters https://commonsenseworld.com/study-says-06-democratic-sweep-of-congress-fueled-by-converted-republican-voters/ https://commonsenseworld.com/study-says-06-democratic-sweep-of-congress-fueled-by-converted-republican-voters/#respond Wed, 16 May 2007 13:51:00 +0000 http://annafiltest.wordpress.com/2007/05/16/study-says-06-democratic-sweep-of-congress-fueled-by-converted-republican-voters/ A study called “Looking Red, Voting Blue” released by the centrist Democrat think tank Third Way says that the Democratic take-over of Congress in the 2006 mid-term elections was driven in large part by defecting Republican voters who largely disapproved with President Bush’s scandal plagued administration, President Bush himself, and the Iraq War.

Using raw exit poll data, and a standard known as ‘normalizing’ the electorate (to account for differences between overall turnout between presidential and mid-term elections), the study found that Democrats garnered nearly 5 million new votes in 2006, mostly from higher income, white males.

“The conventional wisdom that economically dissatisfied, working class people –
those we used to call ‘Reagan Democrats’ – returned to the fold is wrong,” said
Jim Kessler, VP for Policy at Third Way, who co-authored the report with Middle
Class Director Anne Kim. “Two-thirds of new Democratic voters in 2006 earned
more than $100,000.This should make Republicans tremble.”

What’s more, the study found that turnout among traditional Democratic voters (lower income, minorities, and unmarried voters) actually declined in 2006.

Some other stats:

-The average voter was 13.4% wealthier than in 2004 – from $54,300 to $61,700 in household income.

-Every new Democratic voter rated the economy excellent or good.

-Every new Democratic voter disapproved of the War in Iraq.

-Every new Democratic voter disapproved of the performance of President Bush.

-Five of six new Democratic voters were White.

-Three of five new Democratic voters were regular church attendees.

-Democrats captured more votes from rural America than from those who live in cities with more than 500,000 people.

It’s great to see that so many people have shed the blinders about this administration, but there’s still a lot of work for the Democrats if they want to see this trend continue. Voter defection from one party to the other in one election does not guarantee that they will stay. If Democrats really want to keep the converted, they’ll have to do better to reform Congress and clean up the ethical messes that plague the political class. They’ll have to continue to confront the president on Iraq and push for a firm end to that conflict while pursuing a rational approach to fighting international terrorism. And they’ll have to figure out how to address the social and religious issues that have fueled the Republican base for the last two decades.

Still, this is heartening news. It’s not just Democrats and ‘loony liberals’ that are sick of the twisted politics of the Bush Administration. Increasingly, and especially in the 2006 elections, Red Voters are just saying no to the politics of greed, corruption, incompetence, and death.

I really couldn’t ask for a nicer birthday present. Looks like I’ll have another reason to cheer today.

(cross posted at Bring It On! )

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A Message To Democratic Candidates https://commonsenseworld.com/a-message-to-democratic-candidates/ https://commonsenseworld.com/a-message-to-democratic-candidates/#comments Wed, 25 Oct 2006 06:11:00 +0000 http://annafiltest.wordpress.com/2006/10/25/a-message-to-democratic-candidates/ All indications point to the Democrats regaining control of at least one House of Congress in the upcoming mid-term election. But as they like to say, it ain’t over ’til the fat lady sings. Indeed, if recent past elections are any indication, Democrats are going to have to fight tooth andd nail for every seat they manage to pick up. After all, in the 2000 election, Gore (the Democrat) had the most number of popular votes and should have had the electoral votes as well, until shenanigans in Florida, a state governed by the president’s brother no less, caused their electoral votes to be given to Bush. Again in 2004, when polls showed a Kerry victory (another Democrat) as the likely outcome, shenanigans in Ohio gave republicans and Bush the push over the top. Time and again in recent history, elections that should have favored Democrats produced opposite results in favor of the ruling aprty, in no small part because of irregularities and probable manipulation of the voting process by Republican party members. So while Democrats are expected to edge out the Republicans this election, it is by no means a certainty in my mind.

But suppose the Democrats do win enough seats to become the majority party again? Will they finally tackle some of the core problems that have led to one of the most corrupt governments in our nation’s history? Will they have the sense of duty and stewardship and character to attack and end some of the most perverse aspects of ‘business as usual’ politics? Will they muster the courage to enact real ethics reform, reestablish real oversight, and reclaim their own political independence from the executive branch of government?

I can only hope that they will. K Street, on the other hand, and its plethora of lobbyists are hoping not. Long an established money changing operation between corporations and the Republican party machine, clients of K Street Lobbyist Firms are increasingly showing up at fundraisers for Democrats and are increasing their financial contributions to those running on the Democratic ticket. And while this does strengthen the idea that Democrats are in a viable position to win in November, it also shows how quickly the sharks move from one food source to another. Big Business loves the Republican party, especially in it’s current incarnation, but they also know to hedge their bets, and are gearing up to grease the hands of the other side. The question is whether or not the Democrats really want to change the way Congress is malfunctioning or whether they just want to hold the reins of power for a while.

In spite of the fact that I despise the current Republican agenda, it’s associated hypocritical politicians and their scandals, and the ruinous effects their party ‘s administration has had on American prestige, when I vote for a Democrat this November, I expect them to buck the status quo with an enlarged sense of duty, courage, and stewardship. I expect them to change the disasterous course we’ve been set upon, to enact real ethics reform, to reestablish real accountability, and to reclaim their independence from the executive branch.

I expect a changed plan of action in Iraq through new legislation revising the AUMF orders that began the Iraqi debacle.

I expect a national clean elections act similar to those in Arizona and Maine, to permanently reduce the influence of K Street and it’s spawns.

I expect enactment of the Read The Bills Act, The One Bill At A Time Act, and The Write The Laws Act which will mandate that elected officials actually read what they vote on, write the laws up for a vote (as opposed to an aide or a corporate employee), and limit all laws to single topics, making it impossible for unrelated legislation to be inserted at the last minute.

I expect a plan to address a universal health care system, a plan to decrease the trade and federal deficits, and a plan to restore the American job market through increased educational opportunities or reformations.

I expect a mature approach to international problems instead of posturing, pouting, and pre-emptive warring.

I expect a Congress that will perform rigorous oversight on public policy and international relations while investigating the failures borne out of a decade of looking the other way. I expect them to hold responsible any and all parties who have broken laws or behaved in an unethical manner without creating a circus atmosphere.

And finally, I expect a Congress that is not steeped in partisanship or religious pandering or machismo. I expect rationality, critical thinking, and progressive problem solving.

Maybe I expect too much, but I don’t expect anything we don’t deserve from our government. And I won’t be giving a Democratically controlled Congress any slack if they fail to live up to my expectations. I’ll be voting to change the direction. I damn well expect the rudder to move.

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Much Ado About Many Things https://commonsenseworld.com/much-ado-about-many-things/ https://commonsenseworld.com/much-ado-about-many-things/#comments Wed, 29 Mar 2006 07:45:00 +0000 http://annafiltest.wordpress.com/2006/03/29/much-ado-about-many-things/ When I woke up this morning, my roof was still covering me from the elements of nature, my bed and blankets were still keeping me warm. I enjoyed a nice hot shower and slipped into some newly purchased apparel and went downstairs to get breakfast for my daughter and myself. After getting her safely on the school bus, I commenced with my 35-mile commute to the job I really enjoy that gives me outstanding benefits and adequate pay. I came home to a warm dinner, surrounded by a loving family and most of the material possessions I could possibly need. I have good health, a few bucks in the bank; in short, I have grasped my piece of the American Dream and am living a quality life. I’ve worked hard to get here, but I also know that I’m pretty damn lucky too.

Purely by accident, I was born in the good old U.S. of A. From my first breath, I already held an advantage over two thirds of the planets human population. I did nothing to deserve this; my eventual skills played no part in my good fortune. It just was.

But rather than assume that the advantage of birth is a foregone conclusion, entitling me to all the good things in life just because, I came to realize that success, whether individual or larger scale, is built on the backs of those who came before us. I was lucky to be born in a country that was technologically advanced, democratically governed, and financially affluent. All of these things contribute to my present condition, and they were fought for and won by those who came before me. So despite my own hard work to prop myself up, others paved the way, created an environment for me to excel, and defended the rights of the common man as described in our Constitution.

Yet with so much in my favor, with so much good fortune on my side, why is it that I am so angry at what our country is becoming; at what it has become? This is a question posed often in various ways by conservative commenters and writers who fail to see not only what is changing in America, but also how it is that we got to be so advantaged in the first place.

“What are you whining about?” they say snidely. Or, “Why should I care about that?” in response to some social or foreign policy issue. For someone with limited ability to see beyond one’s own good fortune or pleasant circumstances, the question may seem valid. And try though I might to illuminate my displeasures, the moat of selfishness is often too large to breach. Yet for the sake of trying, I will make another attempt, in statement and response form.

“Why do you always blame everything on Bush?”The president is a categorical liar, beginning with his self-description of “compassionate conservative” to his rationale about Iraq through to his false refutations regarding foreknowledge of the potential damage from Katrina. And these are just the big ones. He has a proven record as a failed businessman, a proven record of unbridled cronyism, and an unhealthy love affair with corporations. He distorts spirituality and cheapens religious beliefs by using them as cynical political ploys. And, he and his administration are responsible for the policies and actions that have gutted decades of environmental and social progression, lowered our reputation among the nations of the world, and squandered our tax revenue and our soldiers in pursuit of folly and a misguided sense of destiny.

“The economy is doing just fine. People who don’t make it are just lazy and expect handouts.”The economy may be okay in my house and in your house, but that could change in a heart attack. Even with my own great medical plan, one major situation and I’m in the hole. But I understand that my own good job is dependent on so many others. With increased outsourcing, there are fewer good paying jobs around. That means less money to spend or circulate, lower tax revenue, fewer public works and support, and on and on. The net effect of other people losing their jobs is felt by us all, and that concerns me, both on a personal level and from an empathetic point of view. Because I don’t just worry about myself. I care about other people too.

“There is no right to health care in the constitution.”There is no right to corporate subsidies either. To paraphrase an original American patriot, give me equity or give me nothing. The Declaration of Independence proclaims the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Constitution declares government to provide for the general welfare of the people. I can’t seem to find the words corporation or lobbyist anywhere in these documents. I can more readily parse “good, affordable health care” from those documents than I can for corporate welfare.Yet aside from the human element, even corporations would benefit from a release of financial obligations for employee health care. It can be done and it should be done.

“Nobody cares about the wiretapping.”Aside from being patently false, the number of people who care is not the relevant issue at hand in the illegal wiretapping scheme carried out by this president. It was, and still remains, an illegal practice as performed at the direction of the president. He is not above the law. No amount of spin can change the facts. Most people don’t care about a hold-up at an obscure 24-hour mini-mart either, but we don’t stop arresting armed robbers. The issue here is not only did the president break the law, but we have men and women dying today fighting to preserve and spread our democratic belief in the rule of law. We’ve had men and women dying for generations to preserve the ideal. It is both a stain on their sacrifice and a spit on their memory to allow any public official, but especially a president, to get away with that kind of arrogance.

“Criticism only emboldens the terrorists. I guess you love al-Qaeda.”And I guess you are a complete idiot. Anyone not thoroughly brainwashed by neo-con, ultra-evangelical ideology can see that it is my deep love of the good fortune I now have that causes me distress over the course this country is on. I see an unsustainable federal spending spree forcing generations to pay for today’s errors, ultimately driving down our country’s economic stability and superiority. I see social programs, designed to uplift those among us who haven’t the money to become educated or get a doctor check-up or eat three squares a day, being systematically cut down or farmed out to religious indoctrinators. I see a hyped up “War on Terror” that expects no civilian sacrifice or participation other than to keep spending those dollars while the tax revenue gets funneled to corporations who don’t even perform the work they were hired for. My criticism is not given blithely. It has been well earned by this administration. And were I not to criticize, were I to remain silent and mute my free speech, only then would I be emboldening the terrorists. For it is that kind of society, one where self-censorship predominates all public discourse, that they embrace and thrive in.

“Why do you hate America?”Why haven’t you been listening? Really listening. Just as no one is perfect, neither is America. Yet in normal times, it is her imperfection that gives her charm and strength. But in times of duress, which is what we entered when planes were used as cruise missles and our government decided to go all squishy while the POTUS had one to many Napoleonic dreams, we can not simply sit back and marvel at our own good fortune. For as government becomes more and more separated from the people, our individual good fortunes will eventually falter. Our collective good times will end if this path is not altered. If you really love America, you wouldn’t sit by and idly accept every lame excuse from the mouths of liars. You wouldn’t profess admiration or fealty to men and women who discard our most important secular documents of all. If you really love America you
’d be right here beside me too.

So as I wrap up another day in my fortunate life, as I get ready to crawl into a warm bed, I realize that for too many in America the good times aren’t real. The struggle is constant. The relief is fading. And I know that if I do not speak, if I do not empathize, I am no better than those who actively fuel their downfall. Out of honor for those who have come before me I will speak for those who fall beside me. Out of respect for the sacrifices of our forbearers, I will fight to preserve the freedom they died to give me. And so long as I have the ability to vote, I will insist that those who speak for me really speak for me.

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Into the New Year https://commonsenseworld.com/into-the-new-year/ https://commonsenseworld.com/into-the-new-year/#comments Tue, 27 Dec 2005 18:10:00 +0000 http://annafiltest.wordpress.com/2005/12/27/into-the-new-year/ 2006 is upon us, and a new year brings opportunities for change. Since 2006 will be a Congressional election year, we know that we can expect a year filled with campaigns and political sparring. We should also expect this mid-term election to be more attended than previous similar elections, as the American people find themselves at a crossroads once again. Serious issues are on the table that will have long-reaching consequences for the state of our country, and the outcome of this election year will either repudiate the policies of the current government or bolster its confidence to continue along the current path.

Most readers of Common Sense already understand that I am no fan of the current administration. My disgust with the Bush presidency stems partly from the basic ideology they operate from and partly from the total incompetence they have shown in their policies and the implementation of them. This administration has eroded our national reputation in the world at large, has sacrificed the future opportunities of the poor and middle classes while helping the rich get richer for the sake of being richer, and distorted the rule of law as suits their whim. The bulk of the Republican members of Congress have marched along with the Bush agenda, abetting this shameless administration while walking hand in hand with their big money donors all the way to the bank. Corruption investigations of prominent Republican lawmakers, aides, and businessmen have exposed this party for what it has become, and rank and file Republicans across the country should be outraged. In 2006, maybe the Republicans can reclaim their party from the greedy and the warmongers and reach back to their roots supporting fiscal sanity, less intrusive federal government policies, and rational foreign policy objectives. And maybe they can restrain the vocal religious minority in their ranks who wish to legislate their theological doctrines, recognizing that religion belongs with the individual, not with the loudest proselytizer.

The Democrats seem energized at times and lackluster at others. So far, they have not been much of an opposition party during the Bush years, and they certainly have not been a party of ideas. Typically, the Democrats have served only as a bulwark against the most extreme positions of the Bush administration, while helping to pass or idly standing by as the face of this country becomes less and less familiar. Belatedly, Democrat lawmakers have begun to pressure the administration as more questionable practices are brought to light, but they are at the very least complicit in the growing degradation of this nation. In 2006, Democrats need to develop a vision that speaks to today’s citizens and problems, relying less on the status quo and more on leadership with the vision and courage to chart a new path for these tricky times. They need to envelop their disparate supporters and unify their agenda for change, while continuing to challenge the current leadership’s king-like tendencies. And they need to shed the perception that they are elitists and embrace core American voters.

Despite the corruption that runs wild in the halls of government, the real work lies with the American people. In all of Congress (435 Representatives, 100 Senators) there are only 2 Independent legislators. They are both from Vermont. With millions of Americans discarding the label of Republican or Democrat, where is their voice in Congress? 2006 should be the beginning of a groundswell of independent candidates and voices in the political process. Independents can espouse the best ideas of both parties without worrying about a “base ideology.” They can use real common sense and work for legislation that benefits all citizens, not just their party faithful. America should not be a country of us versus them. It should be a country of us, with laws created that balance the personal freedom of the individual with the necessary sacrifices of the whole. If we are ever to move forward and make the changes necessary to keep America safe, competitive, and prosperous in the future, we need to hear from more Americans who are not captive to an exclusionary ideology.

The issues that loom on the horizon include real health care reform for all Americans; real education reform that puts students first and adults second; a real energy policy that advances American energy independence; a real immigration policy that is enforced and viable; a focused and well thought out plan to end the war in Iraq and combat real world terrorism; and ending the assault on American citizens by our government, including the decay of civil rights, the inane drug war, and the plight of the poor.

2006 will be more than just a political year. We will surely face new natural disasters that expose our weakness when facing nature’s wrath. We will likely learn about more political and business corruption. We will surely face more terrorism around the world. 2006 will not see an end to these problems. But the current path we are on isn’t making our world a better place for anyone outside the political and business class that always benefits from a small minded, closed government. Let’s see 2006 be the year the people took back their government, their lives, and their future.

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Not My Party https://commonsenseworld.com/not-my-party/ https://commonsenseworld.com/not-my-party/#comments Sun, 09 Jan 2005 00:59:00 +0000 http://annafiltest.wordpress.com/2005/01/09/not-my-party/ There is something wrong with our government and they way it is run. I’m not just talking about the federal government either, but our state and local governments as well. Lacking common sense leadership, beholden to corporate interests and finances, cornered by special interests and threatened lawsuits, and muzzled by political party philosophies, our governments are about as responsive as a sea sponge and accountable to nothing. Overlapping regulations, agencies, and missions create an atmosphere of duplicity and waste while creating barrier after barrier between themselves and the people they purport to serve.

To make matters worse, the American public has become so distrustful of the government that they distance themselves from it at every opportunity. With smaller percentages going to the polls, and an even smaller number actually knowing much about the candidates or propositions before them, government rules and leaders are often picked according to who has the better sound bites, bigger budgets, and nicer hair. Such actions only serve to ensure that government will become less responsive to the public who largely ignores them, thus causing further estrangement by both parties, and on and on. The cycle perpetuates itself until it spins out of control. Propelled by its own inertia, an unchecked government moves backwards in history, becoming less responsive to the needs of its citizens and less representative of the people as a whole.

So what can we do about it? How can we retake our government and make it accountable, efficient, and responsible? The biggest problem in government today stems directly from the political parties themselves. Although nothing in the Constitution requires or advocates it, our government is largely controlled by two main parties- the Republicans and the Democrats. (There are numerous other small parties as well, but we’ll deal with “The Big Two.”) The Democrats and Republican parties seem to have created a representational system of sorts, allowing constituents the opportunity to “choose a side.” In an effort to gain members, each party portrays the other side as bad for America, bad for families, bad for you and me. Their messages have become so successful in fact, that the American people are now practically split 50-50, creating a gridlock and animosity of epic proportions. Their successful attempt to make government look like a boxing match has the added benefit of distracting Americans from paying attention to what is really happening. While we’re all busy socking away at each other, our political parties have quietly carved up the country into “political safe havens,” where they can be sure of re-election, and thus less responsive. While we’ve been watching our tax dollars disappear, they have been securing fat cat deals for benevolent corporate donors and lining up lucrative post-public careers. And all the time, we’ve forgotten that government isn’t supposed to be a sport. Government is a public service, a public duty, and a public privilege.

Republicans and Democrats alike proclaim to have differences big enough to drive a truck through. Big Business vs. Pro-Labor. Tax and spend vs. fiscal prudence. Law and Order vs. Nanny State. In truth though, the two parties have much more in common than they would have you believe. Their real goal is to consolidate power, not for the benefit of providing the public with better service, but for personal gain for their benefactors and themselves. They are both beholden to large corporate donors and labor unions, which, due to the bizarre nature of our campaign regulations, bankroll their ambitions to public office. These kinds of politicians may start out altruistically enough, but the minute the take their oath of office, there are but indentured servants, paying off a debt through favorable legislation, selective enforcement of regulations, and preferential treatment. They are at the mercy of their party leaders, who in turn are being controlled by the corporate and industry demands. Neither party has an interest in simplifying our government so that it can better serve the people. Neither party has an interest in fiscal responsibility. Neither party has a respect for the laws of this country, finding every loophole and exploiting every nuance. And neither party has respect for you, the taxpayer, the citizen, the American.

Government was created to provide certain basic needs of society. It provides public security. It regulates and enforces laws. It creates and regulates an economic base for business and labor. It provides some level of infrastructure. It defends the inherent rights of humanity, namely freedom of religion and thought and the chance for a happy life. Everything that our government does should fall into one of those main categories.

I think we could all agree that we expect the government to protect the integrity of our borders from attack and to defend our interior to its best ability. We expect our government to fight for our interests abroad to further our safety as a country. We expect our government to enact laws that apply to everyone and to enforce those laws equally. We agree that acts like murder, rape, theft, and assault, in all their many forms, should be illegal and punishable. We value the freedom to worship any religion we choose, to learn what we want to learn, to go where we want to go. And we expect our government to respect those freedoms and nourish them. We all want our children to grow up happy, in safe neighborhoods, and going to good schools. We all want to be able to provide for our families and to give them something special now and then. We all want to enjoy good health and the access to good health care. We have a lot more in common than the political parties would have you believe.

It is true that in finding our way to a common goal, we often come across many rivers that lead to the lake. The trick is in navigating the best stream at the right time. Unfortunately, our politicians aren’t even in the same boat. By focusing on their task of division, they are trying to get us to ignore that we have so much in common. They want to keep us at odds and so they muddy the waters by obscuring the true tasks of government and instead highlighting manufactured or sensationalized differences between “them and us.”

The only way to shake off their grasp on a stagnant government is to abandon the parties en masse. A successful American government need not be dependant on artificial labels. Americans from both “sides” should re-register as independents, cast aside their party platforms and recognize the candidates who use Common Sense. Choose leaders who shun the labels but stand on principals that we all agree on. Understand that public service is a duty and an honor and choose leaders who believe that too. Only by denouncing the politics of partisanship can the business of government truly take place.

This would be but a start in putting government back into the hands of the people. The very nature of democracy demands compromise before advance, and in this current political split, we need to not only abandon the parties individually, but abandon the politicians too. Doing anything less would prevent any meaningful reform. At every election, reject a candidate affiliated with any political party. Don’t let yourself believe that a party affiliation truly reflects who they are, or who you are either. Choose only from among independent candidates and find out where they stand on the issues. If no independents are on the ballot, find one and support them. Make our politicians stand on their own feet and explain why they deserve the honor of representing our interests rather than letting them hide behind boorish party line talking points. And to ensure that there will be plenty of non-affiliated candidates, encourage and support potential candidates.

We must always remember that we do not owe it to the politicians to keep them in office or to agree with their policies. Rather they owe it to us to defend our interests and to ensure that their policies are in line with our needs. We owe it to ourselves to make sure they deliver.

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