The Upcoming Midterms

I'm becoming much more interested in the upcoming midterms as the days pass. There appears to be a growing anti-incumbent sentiment based on the fact that the incumbents seem to be doing nothing but arguing, backbiting, etc. The American public wants to see work being done on critical domestic issues, and it's not being done.

This isn't a slam on either party individually, but on the entire political climate in this country collectively. Politicians in general have utterly lost sight of the fact they were elected to represent their constituents and to work on solving the nation's problems. They are not there to pander to special interests and big business, load budgets with pork, and take potshots at the opposing party.

My hope (and that's all it is at this point) is that the voters will go to the polls so utterly ticked off that they will toss out incumbents of both parties in record numbers. This would send a loud and clear message to those remaining to get off their dead butts and start doing the country's business or face the same fate themselves. I am totally sick and tired of do-nothing senators and representatives. I'm tired of the name calling and finger pointing.

Bush is the very worst of this bunch in that regard, but he's also gone in two years no matter what, so it doesn't matter. He talks a good game but actually does nothing but talk about it. He never provides the strong, decisive leadership necessary to make real significant changes.

Both sides need to pick issues important to them and then work with their opposite numbers to pass legislation and set the path toward solution of the issues. The issue itself is relatively unimportant as long as it's not just a lip-service issue such as flag burning, gay marriage, or one of the other non-issues that makes it appear to some people that congress is trying to "do something." I am talking real issues: Medicare, Social Security, Immigration, border security, reforming the tax code....something of this magnitude. And they must commit to not only talking about it but doing it. It might also be nice to fund the effort properly and put in safeguards so they're not just throwing money at the issue. Might also be nice to identify where cuts will be made to find the money.

In the end, I am really hoping the voters get off their hands and vote in record numbers and that a huge number of incumbents on both sides of the aisle are tossed out on their collective butts, thus sending a loud and clear message in the most forceful way possible that we expect this bunch of self-indulgent, pandering, self-important bunch of wastrels to start actually earning their pay.