Glenn Beck’s Common Sense: Chapter 4
August 30th, 2009All elected officials are corrupt. That’s not exactly a news headline. We all know it. We don’t bat an eye at stories that reveal the latest “scandal”. We merely cringe if the person involved is of the same political party, or scream really indignantly if they’re with the other party. I hate partisanship. They’re ALL a bunch of scumbags!!!!!!! Who cares if there’s a D or R after their name?!!
So why have we allowed ourselves to just accept our politicians as crooks? When are we going to stand up and look for candidates who have principles and stand by them??
It won’t be easy, since anyone with principles doesn’t want the job. Who wants to be labeled a racist if you disagree with someone who happens to be black (even if the subject has nothing whatsoever to do with race)? Who wants to be called a homophobe, bigot, anti-Semite, etc. just for having an opinion that doesn’t fit with the “mainstream”?? Who wants all of the mistakes they’ve made in their life thus far published in newspapers for the country to see and judge them on? Who wants their every move – their clothes, hairstyle, every word – scrutinized?
Why does the media focus on non-issues and incendiary labeling of people? When will Americans say “NO MORE B.S.” and find out where candidates stand on issues that really matter??
I understand why our founding fathers wanted voters to be land owners. They wanted the people who voted to be educated. To know enough to learn the facts of the people they were voting for. I believe we should institute a test before anyone is allowed to vote. Nothing hard. Just multiple choice questions on where the candidates stand on the issues to make sure the voter has been paying attention. Hell, maybe that test should be the ballot – instead of voting for a candidate, you mark where you stand on the important issues, and then your vote is cast for the candidate you agree with the most – whether you realize you agree with them or not.
So many people get so caught up in labels (oh, I would never listen to him – he’s a conservative … he’s too liberal for me) they don’t see anyone clearly any more. Take the blinders off!!
Who are your representatives? Where do they stand on the issues you care about? Ah! First you need to have a firm understanding of the issues and then form your own opinion of them. That’s hard to do with our biased media spoon-feeding us their opinions. The reporters believe you are too stupid to think for yourself so they frame their words in a way to tell you what to think.
Don’t be a sheep! Research the current issues – don’t read the newspapers or listen to TV reporters. Read blogs. Look up facts from the original source. Don’t tune out when someone from another political party speaks. Listen. Really listen. Don’t block out their words by thinking of how much you disagree with them. Don’t let your political party guide you. Guide yourself. Think for yourself.
The only principle that our parties really seem to care about now is a principle called “Get elected at all costs.” That’s it. Do not believe their lies and propaganda that our parties still matter – they don’t.
Our politicians need to live like regular folks. Our founding fathers knew this. They assumed congressmen would serve a term or two and go back to their communities, keeping them in touch with the realities of the community they were serving. I believe this was their only mistake when writing the constitution – they should have set term limits for all public offices.
And, I can’t believe it needs saying, but all laws passed by congress have to be obeyed by congressmen as well. If they don’t obey their own laws, they should be booted right the hell out of public service.