The Decline of American Politics

WARNING - Political rant! Do not read if politics raises your blood pressure.

With great dismay, I have been watching for the past several years what has been going on within our government and major political parties, and I have some questions. I want to know where are the great statesmen who put the country first instead of party and who lead by example? Where are the great leaders and thinkers? Where is reason? Where are ethics and integrity? Where is respect for others? Where is adherence to the Constitution and the rule of law? Clearly these things are not to be found in the major political parties or within Congress anymore.

Where is the people’s representative who truly listens to his/her constituent’s opinions and who learns from his/her constituent’s experiences? Whenever a member of Congress does speak to We The People (even in town halls where they purportedly have to come to hear what we think) more often than not they spend their time telling us what to think. Frankly, I’m tired of being told what I should think by someone who hasn’t thought for themselves since they were elected.

Our Congress has degenerated into a bunch of party hacks who blindly follow orders given by millionaires, billionaires, and large corporations. Senators and Congressmen have just played "follow the leader" even when they knew the direction they were taking the country was wrong. They did this even when it was clear that the people who elected them disagreed. By taking these actions in a pack, they lessened the consequences to each individual member…safety in numbers. They have lied to and deluded themselves if they think that we have not noticed.

The way they now operate, most don’t stand for anything. They don't demonstrate any bravery or stand with the courage of their convictions. They now represent the lowest common denominator and it isn’t pretty. They have led us down an infinitely treacherous path for our country's health and well-being. There are numerous examples in history of countries whose representatives blindly followed the leader, where no one stood up and said, "No, this is wrong!" We know from history where this path leads and yet I see them doing nothing to change our course.

With exceptions that I can count on one hand (2 GOP, 2 Dem), I no longer have any respect for the lot of them. Anyone can go to Washington and follow party directions and be part of the dog and pony show. They are interchangeable and, for the most part, useless except to their moneyed backers. I want to see people in Congress who actually care about their fellow man, woman and child. I want to see the return of honesty, class, dignity, and integrity. I want them to represent us. I want to see more than one or two folks standing up for others and for the earth, and speaking truth to power. In other words, I want to see them doing their jobs.