Yes, It’s Politics as Usual

 Ahh, politics. Will it ever change? Well, believe it or not, it has. That’s right, for those of you who are old enough, think back. Did we ever have the rancor, acrimony or schisms from past government icons that we have today? Did we have the blasphemous, immoral or deceitful acts that we witness in our current leaders? With the likes of Barney Frank, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, I don’t think it can get any worse.

It seems it’s become popular to stand on the House floor and “call out” one of your colleagues. Witness California’s 13^th district Representative, Pete Stark. He called Rep. Scott McInnis a “little wimp” and “fruitcake” and then suggested they step outside to settle their differences. Yes, it isn’t as dramatic as the gun toting Senators of the 1800’s, but nonetheless, do we really want our aristocrats cavorting around like teenage boys?

The tenure in the Senate has grown from sixteen to twenty-six years in the last twenty years. Why is that? Well, the answer is simple. It’s become a high paying executive job for those who aren’t really qualified to run a business. Nary a one of these clowns could draw the revenue, recognition, or social glorification they seek from the private sector. But lest I get carried away on a rant, let me get to my point.

Last week, while in Portland on business, I became embroiled in their local politics. It seems there is a $733 million shortfall in their state budget. The Democratic leaders had the usual solution, raise taxes on Oregon corporations and upper-income earners. Unfortunately there was only one problem with that. They couldn’t raise enough votes in the House to do so. That begs the question, and to my point, what does one do?

A letter from the Democratic leaders was leaked to the media. House Speaker David Hunt, a Democrat, and the House budget chief, Peter Buckley, another Democrat, promised that millions of dollars would go to several projects in Rep. Greg Smith’s district. Now what’s so unusual about that? Regular politics, right? Well, Rep. Smith is a Republican.

On Wednesday of last week Rep. Smith confessed the letter was an attempt to get him to jump ship. Side with the Democrats and break rank with other Republicans, thus, support the tax increases. What the letter promised was dollars to schools and the port which stood in the Representative’s district. Alright, fine and dandy. But then he even justified his actions for supporting the Democrats.

“My job is to fight for my constituents. What I’m trying to do here is fight for my district,” he said in a public statement.

Admirable I thought, but was it true? He wasn’t doing anything our U.S. Senators haven’t done for centuries. For the most part, that’s their job – bringing home the bacon. Isn’t that where the term “pork barrel” comes from? But after awhile I got to thinking about it. These guys are younger, less equipped, not as seasoned, and, fortunately, less vile than our national leaders. They are the minor leaguers of politics. The infants waiting in the wings and being groomed as they flounder around in the local political scene. Ah, but is that the end of it, or will one or more emerge on the national scene in the not to distant future? Such as Senator McCain’s esteemed Vice Presidential candidate, Sarah Palin. This came as a lesson for us all to observe. This is where politicians sharpen their skills to move on to the national level, and to my dismay, they’re still sharpening their skill on the backs of the people.

While I don’t believe Rep. Smith is joining ranks with the Dems for the cause of his people, I do believe he is thinking of his own future. A political ploy if you will. Unfortunately for him, he got caught. The American people aren’t stupid, even in Oregon. The bill got shot down and politics goes on as usual.

What do we do to stifle these not so bright loons? Those wannabe rulers that don’t have a clue. Like Tim Pawlenty said, two terms is enough for those who care. For those who make a difference two terms they can bear. Limit all our political offices to a term or two. It’s not a game of wealth and power. It’s not about gaining influence for one’s own agenda. It’s about making lives better for all Americans, whether on the local or national stage.