We Get What We Vote For

In a recent article, columnist Michael Barron wrote that with the nationalization of the car companies, banks, and other businesses, we may be entering an era of "gangster government." That was his term for the way the Obama administration has been trampling on the rights of private enterprises. He was referring to the way some members of the administration and Congresses, such as Barney Frank, have directly intervened with car manufacturers by insisting on restoring dealer franchises to their friends. There is clearly a problem when the federal government can force businesses to reverse business decisions to help politically connected people, while excluding those who aren’t. When Mr. Frank and others say they see no problem and are just helping constituents, there is obviously something wrong with their moral compass. What is going on in the country when millions of people can continue to support members of Congress who lie, cheat, steal, and commit all manner of other crimes? Have Americans become so hardened and cynical about this kind of behavior that they have begun to accept as the price we must pay?

Over and over, we see the hypocrisy of so many members of Congress. We hear talking heads on television try to dismiss charges as just politics. We hear politicians try to blame the other guy for doing what they themselves are caught doing. They try to argue, “Yes, but the other party is doing it too,” as though that made it acceptable. The White House Press Secretary dismissed the protest of all the citizens across the country that opposed the proposed healthcare bill as manufactured protest by big business. The sliminess of national politics has become so bad that we no longer believe any of our leaders. Many elected officials themselves now acknowledge this as part of the game and feel they have no choice but to fight back using the same tactics. So America, what is the answer?

The answer to the problem lies with the American voter. They can either accept this abuse, the lies, the scandals, and the stealing of their freedom, or they can stand up for what is right and vote these people out. Americans must stop whining and complaining about what is wrong and fix it at the polls. If they don’t like what these people do, then they clearly have the option to remove them. Until that day comes, Americans will get more of the same. We get exactly what we vote for.