If I ever decided to run for office (and I don't see that ever happening), I know I'd have a snowball's chance in hell just because I'd take a different tactic than most politicians out there. And, yes, I do know that most politicians have said the same thing, but I'd actually stick to my guns. Of course, they say that, too. I wouldn't promise to lower taxes or not add any new taxes; you just can't not raise taxes. That would be like a grocer promising not raise the prices on his products. Government is a business--it has to make a profit to be successful. I think my slogan would be along the lines of, "I will do the best job I can and try not to screw it up." No false promises, no false sense of security, just honest, hard-working diligence to make sure I get the job done they elected me to do. Now say I actually got elected to whatever office I was running for (let's pretend it's the U.S. Senate)...I would have a lot of work ahead of me, and I know a lot of opposition. I'm pretty sure that my fellow Senators would do their best to make me look like a jackass, and I know that some lobbyist would try pretty darn hard to sway my vote for his/her agenda. I would have to avoid temptation with every turn I make. I believe that's why so many people in the government have failed us. They made promises that they intended to keep but the moment they stepped foot into the position they were elected to, temption was there to give them a detour, and they took it up on its offer.
That's why politics is my weak point. I don't follow it too much because those elected officials are greedier and dirtier than the devil himself (I'm pretty sure many have exchanged their souls for the seat they were elected to). I'm too honest and nice of a person to ever be an elected official. I don't want to have to deal with lobbyists and crooks trying to line my pockets so I can do their bidding. I don't want to lose my conscience or my morality. I realize that there are probably some good elected officials out there (almost seems like an oxymoron to say good and elected in the same sentence), but you don't get to hear enough about them or what they are doing for their constituents.
The whole reason I started thinking about politics today is an article I read on MSNBC about a man in Tennessee who lost his home to a fire that firefighters refused to fight because he hadn't paid his $75 annual fee. It blows my mind that these men did nothing but stand by and watch as this man's home burned down (yet when the fire spread to his neighbor's property, the firefighters extinguished those flames before they got out of hand because that neighbor had paid his fee). Granted, the story did say that many of those firefighters went home upset because they did nothing. I understand why the firefighters did what they did, but it's still unacceptable. Glen Beck thinks the firefighters did the right thing because if they had fought this man's fire, then they would have to do the same for the next person who hadn't paid their fee. But here's my question: What would those firefighters have done if a person had been trapped in that house during the fire (the man lost 3 dogs and a cat in the blaze)? Would they have said to hell with the fee and attempted to save trapped person? I'm sure they would have, but that's not the point. These men responded to the fire, stood in the street, and watched as the fire destroyed this man's property. I think instead of having a fee, this rural community, this little town, should institute some sort of tax for these services (because then it's paid for regardless, unless, of course, they try to evade their taxes). I mean if firefighters can refuse to fight fires, could the paramedics or police officers for this community refuse to render services as well? I know it's a pretty far stretch to think that paramedics would refuse to render aid, but look at what happened to that man in Pittsburgh back in February. He died because paramedics couldn't drive up to his front door and give him aid (sadly, none of them thought of getting their lazy butts out of their warm ambulances and walking to the man's house). You may think this has nothing to do with politics, but it does. This is were an elected official at the local level needs to step up and propose a better plan, then an official at the state level makes sure that proposal gets funding from the state, and this is where the federally elected official gives the funding to his state. I know it's not as cut and dry as I've typed it here, but I have a feeling this little incident is going to cause some big changes for this community and for many communities like it. I guess you could also say, after reading this, that I'm a bleeding heart liberal, and you might just be right. But I see myself as someone who believe that all of us hard-working Americans deserve to have better treatment than what we get from elected officials. I know I haven't done my part because I don't go out and vote, but I'll make a deal with you...Find someone trustworthy, honest, and dependable to represent me, and I'll be the first in line come election day. Otherwise, forget about it.
Like I said, talking about politics is a weak point I have. I can't tell you who my city officials are, or my state legislators, or even my federal legislators (I do know that the governor of Texas is Rick Perry and the President and Vice President are Obama and Biden), but I know the reason I didn't vote for them is because I didn't like what they were offering. That's my reason for not voting--if I don't buy what you're selling, it's because I don't believe or trust your sales pitch. Oh, and just in case any of my elected officials actually read this, I want you to know that the day you stop blowing smoke up my bum and start being genuine with me is the day you can have my vote!
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