Democrats vs Republicans

So a minor few of you decided to read this because you actually enjoy my blog, the rest of you probably decided to read it because you wanted to see which party I was going to rip so you could decide if you liked me or not.

The answer to your inquiry of who will be mocked and chastened is neither. Or both depending how you look at it. 

What brought this on is the realization that I finally understand what people mean when they say they hate politicians. Do I register as a Republican when I go to vote? Yes. Do I agree with most of the basic views of the GOP? Yes. However, do I like most of the people who are in office on a federal level? For the most part, no. There are too many RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) and not enough public servants.

In my mind when you become an elected official, you have ended your campaign and become a public servant. There is nothing I hate worse than a politician who makes decisions based solely on whether it will help him get into office next term.

There's a reason politicians were (are?) called public servants. Servants serve others. Duh. Instead of public servants, the ranks of our government at all levels is filled with "career politicians" whose only thought is for the next election.

I've thought about this quite extensively and I like to keep things simple so in my mind there are two things we need:

1. Normal people who decide to run for office be that at the local, state, or federal level of government. 

Normal people, everyday people, people like you and me, we can run for public office. There is no where that says you have to have a degree in political science or a lot of money to run for public office. It's public after all isn't it? Yes, there are certain requirements, but for the most part there is next to nothing that keeps us from being a part of our government. 

2. People actually paying attention to and caring about what is happening in the government. 

There is nothing to excuse our negligence in our patriotic duty to vote and be informed. We-- you and me and everyone else--have the privilege to live in this country (and if you don't think it's a privilege then watch the next few posts because there will definitely be one on that) and that privilege comes with certain responsibilities, like actually paying attention and using reason to consider who and what we vote for instead of just voting party lines. If you don't vote, you have no right to complain about anything that happens as a result of the government, which these days is most everything. No complaining about taxes or unemployment or the prices of goods or services or the state of roads or public parks.

I don't want to lose anyone because this gets too long, so just know that there will be more on the importance of voting and of being informed. And before I sign off, I'll leave you with something to think about...

"Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual--or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country. "
Samuel Adams, The Writings of Samuel Adams, Harry Alonzo Cushing, editor (New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1907), Vol. IV, p. 256.

"Now more than ever the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption."
James Garfield, "A Century of Congress" published in Atlantic, July 1877.

And last of all, feel free to disagree. I don't write this to have my ego stroked by those who agree. :)