It takes a lot to get me angry about politics. So forgive this rant.
We are reaching a boiling point. When political parties spat over every little detail like when a speech should be delivered like children fighting. Click here.
Or when we politicize helping hurricane victims in the United States. Click here. Are you kidding me? Isn’t this exactly what government is designed for – to help citizens in a time of emergency? We will rebuild foreign lands but not Vermont? Get me out of here!
Voters and people start to tune out as these details are so trivial in light of the big picture issues that we face as a nation. We lose respect for all politicians. Apathy sets in. Then anger starts to rise. People start to think, “YOU ARE ALL TO BLAME! GET OUT!” Out with the old and in with the new!
Right now there is a massive silent majority, the mass of America. It tries to go about its day. It works hard to support its family. It is focused on basics – jobs, health, education, peace. Politics is local. Why can’t “they” understand? Political issues are of interest to a small fraction of people say 10 percent passionate on the left and 10 percent passionate on the right. The other 80 percent doesn’t care about process – or politics – just about outcomes and improving daily life and strengthening our country long term against the “rise of the rest”!
I think these latest incidents could become the matches that start to ignite the awakening of the middle and the silent majority. Everyone I talk to of late is just angry about what we are doing to ourselves!
Like in Egypt, a small incident awakened the people and there was regime change. That revolution was basically an economic one. People didn’t have jobs. Students didn’t sense hope. Let us take matters into our own hands they said. And then they acted.
Politicians in DC are starting to tread on very dangerous ground. Soon we could see millions of people marching into DC – organized by social media – demanding to take our system back.
We can’t have short term economic downgrades; untended to natural disasters; 10 percent unemployment; a total lack of confidence in our leaders; and have politicians primping on TV about political issues. Americans are smart. They have big BS detectors out now. They are tuning out all of the “blah,blah,blah”. We want substance and selflessness not politics about re-elections and protecting the voter base.
Right now, America – Middle America – has a lack of confidence in our leaders – left and right – and in the system. It is reflected in our economy; in how the world looks at us; and in how our country seems to be crumbling all around us.
We are ripe for big massive change. It is amazing to me that our President came in on a mandate for change and somehow is caught right back up in the morass of DC! That didn’t take long did it? The man wants to give a speech and we fight about day and time. Both sides seem crazy to me.
If I was a politician today I would stop adding to the noise. I would focus on the signal. Our country needs focus on important matters in a calm and collected way with an articulated plan – left and right – focused on what is important to us as a “mass” not as a “left or right” voting block.
We may need a total outsider to the system to come and rescue us with a short term focus on one term and an “I promise to do this, this and this by this date; fix these issues and then go home.” That message and plan I think would get someone elected. We don’t want politics. We want improvement to our daily life and to make America great again. Politics shouldn’t be a career aspiration. Getting re-elected isn’t the goal. Fixing stuff is the goal.
I would resonate to that message. A turnaround specialist; fix what ails us not as a career aspiration but as a public service; play big and then go home. Focus on a few big things – jobs; infrastructure; economy; education/competitiveness; and peace. End of story and mandate.
On a personal basis, I have tuned out now. I feel like a line has been crossed of late.
If you are a politician, don’t call on me for support or for dollars. On any side. I am not buying what anyone is selling right now.
I am mad as hell and I don’t want to take it any more! End of rant.