I am not a news or political junkie. But I love my country and take my duties as a citizen as seriously as I can. Washington nowadays is increasingly a frustrating and dispiriting place to think about especially during a campaign year when the rhetoric is so fierce and the intentionally misleading of voters is par for the course. What are these candidates fighting for? Its hard for me to imagine any candidate in today’s environment not to be negatively affected by campaign politics to the extent where it also negatively shapes the type of legislator or governor they will become.
A common question I ask myself and that I have heard many times from others is, “Who on earth would want to be president?”
What kind of person has the ambition to throw themselves into this chaotic whirlpool? There must be examples of good meaning men and women who simply want to fight for an issue or a particular policy of import that muster the energy to run for office. But doesn't it seem like common sense that the majority of people that self select into this process today have an unhealthy amount of ambition? Is this too judgmental of me? I don't know but I am uncomfortable with the idea that Washington's culture is attracting the best pool of citizens.
I am blessed to know many wonderful, smart, patriotic, capable, talented men and women at work, church, and in my community. Virtually none of these people consider running for public office. I believe this Is this one of the root problems with government today. We need to work to increase the pool of candidates to represent us in government.
How, you ask? (Never complain without a proposed solution, right?) I’m sure there are lots of great ideas that could work and a combination of them would be necessary. I have always been an advocate for exacting term limits to push out career politicians and move the policy debates to the local levels.
One idea that struck me the other day as I was listening to Obama or McCain or both speak was this – wouldn’t it be fascinating to listen in to all of their campaign team’s staff and strategic meetings? I am tired of listening to the calculated and scripted stump speeches. What are these two saying to their respective teams in the privacy of their conference rooms? Wouldn’t that reveal more of their true characters and help us citizens determine whom we would like to vote for?
If senators and congressmen alike would extend transparency from the Senate floor + CSPAN into their staff meetings and allow their constituents a glimpse into their day to day work, I think that a couple of things would happen. First, there would be an automatic reduction in the time politicians have to play politics. Second, and to the point, more "regular" people will see more to the job than the rhetoric and stump speeches and partisan fighting and say to themselves, “hey, I can do that.” It would demonstrate that one truly can serve to make a difference in their communities, states, and nation.
I will applaud the first politicians to podcast, blog, or stream live video to create a true transparency to how they are answering the call to public service. Maybe some are already doing so, and if so, please let me know!
"Extend CSPAN into staff meetings!"
No comments yet. -