468 Job Openings - Only Leaders Need Apply

This was suppose to be an off year for politics. What with Lord Obama being elected and slated to bring us all together, heal the racial divide, and lead the U.S. to its former glory. The Democrats had a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate so The Anointed One was going to get us a national health program, a climate change treaty, and punish those "evil rich people" for their success. So what happened? A stimulus package that was suppose to keep the unemployment rate below 8% was passed. The package turned out to be back-end loaded and really had minimal stimulus impact on the economy. The last I checked the national unemployment rate was 10% and getting it below 8% is a long-term dream. All of his other major legislation packages have met a solid opposition from the Republicans and a sizable resistance from his fellow Democrats. While he may eventually pass Health Care Reform it will be a mere shadow of what they came into office wanting to pass.

But wait! This is just the first of four years of the Obama presidency so he still has three years to tilt the windmills and lead us to the European style socialism that he seems to covet. The new Utopia that he thinks we want is still within reach. Well, apparently such is not the case. This is because the most important thing for a politician is not serving the people but to serve themselves. After the first of the year all of the members of the House and one-third of the senators will start running for re-election. And because we can't live without them they will begin positioning themselves for the primary and then the general election in November. The Democrats will attempt to move to the center and the Republicans to the right. With a socialist in the White House the likelihood of any significant legislation getting passed is remote. This is a good thing for most of us. Then, of course next year begins to race for 2012 and the president will try to move to the center and basically get nothing done until after the election in 2012.

Does this process sound familiar to you? Is should because we have been following this pathetic game plan since Ronald Reagan rode off to California. America has had a leadership shortage for the past 20 years and the prospects of improvement are bleak. Sure when they are running for election they will tell you what great leaders they are but once we elect them they fall victim to the narcotic effect of power and it becomes their drug. Their egos will not allow them to consider what is best for their constituents as much as kissing some more senior politician's butt to get a more visible committee assignment, thereby enhancing their political standing in Washington. Ever notice how they will about knock each other over to get microphone or camera time? They spend hours jockeying for position around the president just because they know that the media is going to be all over him. Kind of like the ugly guy going out with the good looking guy just hoping to get some of his rejects! I am embarrassed for them and us.

Here is my pipe dream solution to this problem. Term limits. Six years for reps and 12 years for senators. The era of the professional politician needs to end and these bozos need to be forced to rejoin the citizenry so they can experience the results of their efforts. Of course getting term limits past would require that they consider OUR best interests and not theirs. That is not likely to happen with this group of knuckleheads. So here is what we do. We seek out candidates that commit, on a contract, that, if elected, they will not seek re-election past a specified term. When they try to craw fish on it you take their ass to court and/or make sure they do not have the opportunity to serve an additional term. Show them this is a serious issue and back it up. We just keep re-electing these guys and it's time we show some leadership as an electorate!