The current state of politics in these United States is wrought with stagnation caused by career politicians that are full of themselves. Everything has become a “deal” – to the exclusion of doing what is right for their constituents. For members of congress who serve two-year terms, the reality is that the serve one and spend the other one campaigning in order to hold on to their seat – with “holding on to their seat” always being their primary objective. The repercussions of that for the American people means more representation for special interest groups that contribute to their campaigns and less representation for the average American. While the people they represent may be thrown a few crumbs now and then – those they truly represent are those that finance their careers.

Members of Congress think they’re God’s gifts

These members of congress often lie to themselves as well as their constituents. They believe and convince us that they need to hold onto their jobs longer so they can accomplish some lofty goal – a goal that by the time it is presented for a vote usually has been so compromised that it’s not worth the paper it’s written on. Their scalawag-type of stroking leads their constituents to think that they are the best choice for the job.

For conservatives, much can be forgiven if the candidate is pro-life. For progressives, much can be forgiven is the candidate is pro-choice. This point of view does not accept the reality that there may be others that can do the job better that hold to these same principles. It’s the people’s job to find them. Good candidates may be available in their own backyards that hold to their same principles and won’t sell out to the hierarchy. Should such a candidate emerge, the road to election success is often obstructed by the monies the special interests have provided for the incumbent. And so the circle of stagnation that has been created by well-financed political machines, annihilate good challengers, who have been vilified and destroyed well before the general election.

Neophyte disadvantage

Additionally, the longevity of career politicians presents another dilemma for those of us who still believe we actually have representation. Should we, the American people in small town America, have the gumption to throw the career politician out of his or her ivory tower, the newbie they elect may be incapable of representing anything or anyone at all. The cabal that currently exists has literally taken over the democratic system. They have done this by only assigning the most powerful positions on every committee to those that have learned to play-along-to-get-along – which usually means those who have been in power the longest.

Thus, the newbie is powerless in the created hierarchy, and his constituents have joined the ranks of our revolutionary Founders, who revolted against taxation without representation. For the representation they think they have is nothing more than a pipe dream where they are hopeful that their newbie can shake things up and do right by them. In reality, he or she can do nothing at all – except rub elbows with the elitists and perhaps attach themselves to someone who may have already sold their soul to the cabal. This system has led to the destruction of the integrity of the more altruistic representative, who eventually becomes corrupted by the system he or she is trying to reform. In essence, the longer they are there, the less valuable they are.

Make a pact to throw out all the bums at once!

So, is it hopeless? It is not, but hope must be accompanied by committed action. In this case, it would literally take a national pact by those living in every congressional district throughout these United States to enforce term limits at the polls. This People’s Pact would take committed determination by a strong grassroots movement to simply not vote – in either primary or general elections – for any incumbent that has been in office for longer than two terms.

In the House, that would mean that for their first term, they would spend one year campaigning, but no time doing such an activity in their second term. For the Senate, a six-year term is more than adequate, since in the course of 12 years (or two terms) too much damage can be done. These people need to serve our country and then go home and live under the laws, regulations, and tax structure they have created.

President Trump may talk about “draining the swamp” but the swamp-dwellers have already begun the process of devouring him. Only We the People can do this job. For those that vote for the same-old-same-old time and again, simply because the same-old-same-old supports a cause they are committed to, then I say, find the newbie that shares your commitment. Only then, if we have the intestinal fortitude to starve the swamp-dwellers ourselves, can we have any hope of draining their habitation. It’s time to come together and make a pact among ourselves that will give credibility to our hopes of restoration, or sink in the swamp with the creatures that smile and shake our hands. You may think that your representative is one of the good guys, but I say it’s high time to throw the bums out!

Reprint from The Daily Rant, copyright 2017 Mychal Massie, by permission