Anyone who thinks that with the Democrats in control of Congress, things will really change, raise your hand. Please keep them raised while my associates hand out some flyers on great new vacation properties available for a limited time.
It would be the height of naivete to think that what our government has become will change because a different party is in power. There will be some cosmetic changes. Some pet projects will be propelled through the legislative process. We might be paying more taxes. In short, maybe some new carpet and fresh paint.
Is Congress now going to look at expenditures and begin to spend what is needed without adding on the "pork"? Nope. Are we going to see some answers to the hard questions facing us like crime, family disintegration or corporate greed? Huh-uh. Social Security reform? Seriously, that one made me laugh.
Will we see members of either party stand up for what is right, even when it means breaking from party ranks? A few will, but the overwhelming majority will hold the party line. There will be more fighting, gridlock, finger pointing and accusations. There will be hand wringing, pompous speeches, empty promises and more scandals.
The sad thing about it all is that no lesson will be learned. Republicans dropped the ball when they had the chance. They started off with promise 12 years ago, but became part of the same dilapidated machine they railed against. Somewhere along the line small government ballooned, the people took a back seat to party and accountability was overtaken by arrogance.
Sometime soon, the Democrats will again be swept from power and the Republicans, full of fresh promise will sweep in to save the day. That is until they are again knocked down and overtaken by the Democrats. The reason? There is no leadership.
I'm not talking about party leadership. There are not the people who will stand in front of the People and speak from the heart about what is right. No one has emerged who is willing to take the political risk to be the only one who will say the hard things, face the tough issues and accept the consequences.
We need real leaders. Those we would be willing to follow. Those we would desire to follow. Two quotes from Thomas Paine's The American Crisis in 1776 indicate the attitude we need:
I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.
If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.
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