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Since learning about fabricated evidence to send this nation’s men and women into harm’s way, our nation’s voters have been on a quest to find something more meaningful in our elected officials. We swept Democrats onto office, and the majority feel they are either still waiting for the change promised, interested in breaking things up a little or ready to give things back to the GOP. The polls and predictions from CNN, FOX, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, NBC, the New York Times, Washington Post and the list goes on, all predict the House will switch hands to GOP control, and the Senate, they say, may very well do the same.
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If both chambers go to the GOP there will still be shared power, as the buck still stops at the president’s desk, and the president is a Democrat. If the GOP does not take both chambers of Congress, and either takes the Senate or the House solely, that still means shared power.
It may be just as well. Democrats were swept in on a mandate of bringing change and they gave us some, but it has fallen short of most people’s expectations, thus far. So now, if the media and the polls know anything, we will be in a new position, and back to shared power. Even if only one chamber goes the way of the GOP both are predicted to have significant facelifts.
For so many years we’ve lived with a shared monopoly of power in Washington, which has effectively cut out all other competitors from the market. We have been fed up over and over again with the system in Washington. Ask people if the system is broken and most if not all say yes, to one degree or another.
They are being handed a new mandate this time around. That is to share power effectively. They are being given an opportunity to bring numerous sides to the issues and work them out effectively. They may not realize it, but this is indeed a chance for them as if they keep bungling things up the future will almost assuredly hold new parties coming to power.
This could start as small regional parties getting elected locally; they do well, and as time passes they move on to elect people to national positions. This happens in enough places and the system, though still in tact and not radically altered, will be effectively injected with new energy and folks who may not be as susceptible to corruption, party influence and corporate influence as we so often see on both sides today.
It could happen through people with similar interests, feeling their needs have not been addressed banding together in areas they have significant populations and sending their people first to local office, and perhaps even to national office. These groups could form coalitions with others who have found regional success, but don’t have the numbers to send representatives to national office. It would be a non radical revolution wherein the pen turns out to be truly mightier than the sword, or in this case where the ballot turns out to be more powerful than the dollar bill. Wouldn’t that be nice?
As for the here and now, Republicans can both work with Democrats and give us legislation much more informed from more than just the perspective of one party so we all can feel better represented, or they can refuse to work with Democrats so the divide in our country grows deeper and bitterer. The choice will really be up to both parties, but this time around all eyes will be on them. We’ll see how they handle their shift back into control again.
To read about my inspiration for this article go to www.lawsuitagainstuconn.com.
Original: The Search for Solid Leadership