2006 Soap Box Archives

Crossroads Part Five

Career Politicians

Many of the early immigrants who came to America came to escape caste
systems and monarchies that judged people by birthright and social status.
They were tired of being ruled and suppressed by people whose only claim to power was their lineage.

America and the American Dream were conceived on the one man, one vote, all men are created equal concept and our political system is supposed to
reflect that proposition. No kings, no lords and no nobility, which inherits
power.

We may not have a monarchy in this nation, but unfortunately we have the
next thing and it's called the career politician.

There are Congressmen and Senators who have been in office for decades and have perfected the old boy network and political patronage to a science.

In the first place, our political system was never designed for career
politicians. It's obvious from the way it is drawn up that it meant for a
person to serve a couple of terms and move on; to let somebody fresh off the street bring the reality of current situations to bear and break up the
cliques and power groups politicians tend to build.

If you ever visit the Capitol building when Congress is in session you will
find the halls jammed with lobbyists representing special interests. And if
you don't think they have the ears of your elected officials you'd better
think again. In fact, in many instances the views of the lobbyists and their
clients are about the only information they get.

Lobbyists pass out favors and build relationships with politicians over the
years and are just one more viable reason to break up the club.

How can a person who has lived in Washington for thirty years and only goes home to campaign every few years possibly have a handle on what is going on in America today? The simple answer is that they can¹t. They can't possibly sympathize with the current situation in America.

A prime example of this is the immigration mess. Congress refuses to deal
with it because they are going to offend one side or the other and it's
going to cost them votes. Never mind what is the right thing to do and
what¹s best for America. The important thing to them is just staying in
office.

There is a simple way to get fresh views and new people in Washington and
that is term limits. Two four-year terms for a President. Two four-year
terms for a Senator and four two-year terms for a Congressman. Then let them go home and go to work just like everybody else.

Now I know what a lot of people are going to say. If people in their state
want them out of office let them vote them out.

The reality of the situation is that as long as they bring home the pork,
the people of their state will never vote them out and in the meantime the
rest of America with politicians who have not had twenty or thirty years to
build a coalition pay for useless highways and bridges to nowhere.

Term limits would go a long way in attracting the caliber of people who
actually want to serve the citizens of the United States of America, not
stand on their backs to build power alliances and personal fortunes.

Of course the self-servers in Washington will never submit to this. It will
take an angry groundswell of public indignation to make it happen.

It's time.

Pray for our troops.

What do you think?

God Bless America

Charlie Daniels