Results so far:
| No | 77% | 10 votes | Total: 13 votes | |
| Yes | 23% | 3 votes |
The answer is NO; we expect our elected officials to represent our voice about our issues and to be an example to the world of Americas greatness, as well as preserve our rights. If holding our elected officials accountable and wanting them to resolve issues, which have been issues for decades, all while respecting the honor of holding office in the respectful nature intended by the founding fathers is asking too much; then I guess so. Instead of keeping their word and doing what is right, it seems that as soon as our elected officials give their acceptance speech they suffer from a raging, wide spread illness, found throughout much of Washington D.C.. An illness which is inflamed with greed and festered with mistrust and corruption, an illness called, Politics. As these politicians play political ping pong on the tax payers' time-clock, the agenda's most concerning the American people are getting less attention, while private spending parties for pork projects are taking center stage upon Capitol Hill.
Yes, if wanting these elected men and women to do their job with integrity and work just as hard as I do, is asking to much. The politicians of present day seemingly leave their moral integrity at the state line upon departure for Washington D.C. and that is for the few that can define moral integrity and keep a straight face at the same time, simply because most have already tasted the savory essence of greed and deception. Instead of taking care of their business, the government had rather waste millions trying to stick their nose in our business. Stop the stupidity in Washington,surely one must recognize the apparent danger of too much government, not only to the American citizen but to the very fabric of ideas behind the Constitution itself: OUR FREEDOM. Government has deepened the debt and continues to spend, Washington D.C. politics seems to be doing far more than we asked. Just look at the $800 billion plus "stimulus" package and the careless intrusion upon the future generations of this great nation. How much more could we ask for?
It is crazy question to ask "Do we expect too much". We in-trust our very livelihood to our elected officials, hoping that the security and wellbeing of the nation will be in good hands. But much to often in todays political atmosphere the "needs" of the country are laid aside to make way for the "wants" of "pork-bellied politics". Instead of going to the Capitol to make it work for the people; the politicians of today ask us to do more for the Capitol, all the while the control of the Capitol is getting larger and the tax burden greater. The only thing the American people can ask Congress and other elected officials at any level of government is please just don't make any worse, improve something for crying out loud. That would be asking too much! Now with a basically one party government the feeding frenzy will continue until all the American freedoms are devoured and their socialist bellies are filled. There are a few who fight a good fight and have honor and respect the trust of the public, a trust so very fragile yet so very forgiving. The question at hand is does our elected officials ask too much, too often of the American citizen.
Learn more about this author, Jason Reeves.
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Do we expect too much from our elected officials?
In a word, yes.
Ben Franklin said "God helps those who first help themselves". I believe Mr. Franklin, being one of the Founding Fathers of our Great Nation, would absolutely shudder the way "We the People" have misconstrued the intended capabilities of elected office.
We often give as much or more power to our elected officials as was given the King of England before the Mayflower set sail for America. Since then, we have fought wars for the right to vote. We are proud of our democracy. However, exactly how much should we expect from these elected officials? They are people prone to the same human conditions as the rest of us. They have bad days and errors in judgement, too. What is reasonable and fair to hope for when a citizen casts his or her vote in the ballot booth?
Back in Ben Franklin's day, we toiled over fields, made our own bread and hand washed our clothes. When a man gave you his word, he was bound by honor. We were a great deal more self sufficient than we are today. Ben Franklin also said, "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise." I doubt seriously Mr. Franklin lost much sleep contemplating how George Washington was going to provide relief for anything more than keeping the Redcoats at bay. I imagine their political issues were much more immediate than bailing out criminals or floating yet another big corporation run ashore by greed.
Moreover, we have come to expect so much when we offer so little. We expect our elected officials to move mountains, and yet, we barely move off our sofas. Exactly whose job is it to "fix" our lives in the first place? Isn't everyone managing their own lives? Personal responsibility is lost on our society today and therefore, it is not surprising to find so many unhappy folks looking to the government to save the day.
Electing our officials is one of the key strengths of our nation. We must rely on our individual strengths and muster the courage to separate the wheat from the chaff. Before looking to our elected officials to extricate us from our responsibilities, we must first ask what is appropriate for an elected official to accomplish.
President John F. Kennedy said "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." He empowered people with that statement. President Kennedy knew he could not do his job without the support of the people because he also knew one man alone could not resolve the entire country's woes.
Learn more about this author, Christina Hope.
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