Here we are in the midst of political primary season preparatory to the upcoming off year general election in November and I am once again amazed at the gullibility or at least the limited focus of the average voter. Really, think about it. We spend all of our time between elections complaining about the "do nothing" politicians or worse, their bad voting records and then we turn around and routinely send the same people back to represent us.
And consider the age of many of these who stand repeatedly for reelection. What is it about our voting patterns that causes us to continue sending our representatives back to Washington when they have long since exceeded the age of the constituents they represent and have become out of touch with them? Do we truly not feel that there is an age limit at which retirement should kick in? We ourselves retire at a certain point, yet we continually vote men and women in their seventies and beyond back into office.
Lest some of you try and accuse me of age discrimination, I am in my sixties myself and I know that as we age we need to slow down a bit. While mental acuity can remain strong into later years, the pace of life and activities naturally slows some. Yet we continually watch septuagenarians and even octogenarians serve in high government places when physical conditions have clearly started to fail. I remember once when Robert Byrd was rolled into the Senate on a hospital gurney to cast an important vote. Some question if he even knew where he was that night.
There are also examples of men and women in later years who have maintained a good grasp of all aspects of mental and physical strength but, even so, after generations of service I think a little fresh perspective would do some good. A good case in point today is Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi. Cochran is a fixture in the Senate; over the years his exposure in Washington has resulted in him becoming more concerned with maintaining his collegial relationships than with the people of Mississippi. This usually happens across the board and it is natural after years of being treated with special deference while holding access to power. Others of a similar ilk who come to mind include the likes of John McCain, Harry Reid, and Diane Feinstein and their are many others.
The case of Senator Cochran is especially noteworthy today since he is in the final days of a heated primary where he is trying to hold on to his seat against a young and dynamic opponent, State Senator Chris McDaniel. Mr. McDaniel is one of the new breed in the mold of Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and Rand Paul and his views are of the rising Conservative tenor which has been uplifted in recent years by the Tea Party movement. Sadly, Senator Cochran finds himself more in tune with the RINO world, a world that becomes natural from the many years of exposure to special interests and lobby groups which revolve around Washington, D.C. The outcome of this campaign is in doubt, but I know that if I were a Mississippian, I would want the more energetic Conservative elected to replace the aging man who has more ties these days to the Establishment than he does to his home folk.
Come on, America, get more involved in the elections process and take the time to know what the candidates stand for and what their record is rather than just assume that the elderly candidates deserve to be retained in office into their later years. Fresh blood, new ideas and routine reshuffling of the deck is good for any organization. This is particularly so today when we have elected bodies who don't even know what is in the legislation they are voting for because they've never read it. Our society can't avoid sinking into the mire if we continue to operate this way.
And as for the new blood when and if it is elected, what should apply to them? Well, voters must stay on top of the issues and hold them accountable for doing what they said they would do when they vote. And if they don't, it will be time to turn them out as well for some more new blood. A rebirth of the body politic through citizen involvement and action is what will keep our political system both responsive and honest in meeting the needs of this great Republic. I hope you will consider this each and every time you vote.
Have a great day and God bless America.
And consider the age of many of these who stand repeatedly for reelection. What is it about our voting patterns that causes us to continue sending our representatives back to Washington when they have long since exceeded the age of the constituents they represent and have become out of touch with them? Do we truly not feel that there is an age limit at which retirement should kick in? We ourselves retire at a certain point, yet we continually vote men and women in their seventies and beyond back into office.
Lest some of you try and accuse me of age discrimination, I am in my sixties myself and I know that as we age we need to slow down a bit. While mental acuity can remain strong into later years, the pace of life and activities naturally slows some. Yet we continually watch septuagenarians and even octogenarians serve in high government places when physical conditions have clearly started to fail. I remember once when Robert Byrd was rolled into the Senate on a hospital gurney to cast an important vote. Some question if he even knew where he was that night.
There are also examples of men and women in later years who have maintained a good grasp of all aspects of mental and physical strength but, even so, after generations of service I think a little fresh perspective would do some good. A good case in point today is Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi. Cochran is a fixture in the Senate; over the years his exposure in Washington has resulted in him becoming more concerned with maintaining his collegial relationships than with the people of Mississippi. This usually happens across the board and it is natural after years of being treated with special deference while holding access to power. Others of a similar ilk who come to mind include the likes of John McCain, Harry Reid, and Diane Feinstein and their are many others.
The case of Senator Cochran is especially noteworthy today since he is in the final days of a heated primary where he is trying to hold on to his seat against a young and dynamic opponent, State Senator Chris McDaniel. Mr. McDaniel is one of the new breed in the mold of Ted Cruz, Mike Lee and Rand Paul and his views are of the rising Conservative tenor which has been uplifted in recent years by the Tea Party movement. Sadly, Senator Cochran finds himself more in tune with the RINO world, a world that becomes natural from the many years of exposure to special interests and lobby groups which revolve around Washington, D.C. The outcome of this campaign is in doubt, but I know that if I were a Mississippian, I would want the more energetic Conservative elected to replace the aging man who has more ties these days to the Establishment than he does to his home folk.
Come on, America, get more involved in the elections process and take the time to know what the candidates stand for and what their record is rather than just assume that the elderly candidates deserve to be retained in office into their later years. Fresh blood, new ideas and routine reshuffling of the deck is good for any organization. This is particularly so today when we have elected bodies who don't even know what is in the legislation they are voting for because they've never read it. Our society can't avoid sinking into the mire if we continue to operate this way.
And as for the new blood when and if it is elected, what should apply to them? Well, voters must stay on top of the issues and hold them accountable for doing what they said they would do when they vote. And if they don't, it will be time to turn them out as well for some more new blood. A rebirth of the body politic through citizen involvement and action is what will keep our political system both responsive and honest in meeting the needs of this great Republic. I hope you will consider this each and every time you vote.
Have a great day and God bless America.
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