CHANGE

Change. It seems to be the most recent political buzz-word. As far as I can tell each and every candidate running for president has talked about and promised change.

Change. Yep, they all claim that America needs change, particularly in Washington, D.C. What makes this amazing is that three of the top four candidates, Clinton (both), Obama and McCain are all current members of the United States Senate. I do agree that if there is any entity in Washington that needs change it is the Senate.

So here is the question that I think should be asked. I’ve only heard it once and that was almost in passing. I want to ask, “Well, you’ve been in the Senate for some time why haven’t you done anything about…” and then finish the question with the topic, i.e., “the border”, “health care”, “pork-barrel spending” or what ever it is that a particular candidate is promising to change. The media repeatedly lets candidates, and politicians in general, get away with NOT ANSWERING QUESTIONS. Geez, how many times have we had to listen to some extended, often inane, and all too often insulting babble that has little or nothing to do with the question asked?!? Of course it is pretty rare that a member of the media actually asks a pointed, issue oriented question. This is especially true if the reporter in question has similar political leanings as the person being interviewed. But that is for another post.

I want to ask my question about why they haven’t “changed” anything. I want to ask it over and over until there is an answer. I want to see it repeated to each of these potential presidents by every reporter, every anchor, every person that has access until there is a direct answer. It should be on every billboard. Full page ads in every major newspaper, on every bus and park bench until they answer.

You see I already know the answer. So do you. The answer is they haven’t done anything about any of the crucial issues of the day because they haven’t had to and they don’t intend to. They are promising “change” now because they think it’s what we want to hear. It’s what they think will get them elected. But there is not one issue, not immigration, not health care, not the war and of course not out of control congressional spending that they shouldn’t have already addressed with legislation and solutions. These issues are what keep them in office. These issues are what they make money on from lobbyists to PACs to special interest groups. They are job security. And even as president they can do little to change the system because they are, in fact, the system themselves. The change that we need? No one in congress that’s been there more than two years. Start over. No term more than 4 years. No amendments to legislation that have nothing whatever to do with that legislation (read here…pork, or if you prefer earmarks).

Yeah, I know. Inside the beltway is a common sense free zone. Dollars instead of integrity. Power instead of character.