Good Week Bad Week

I’m reflecting on the past couple of weeks with mixed emotions.

The state of Alabama mustered the strength to apparently do the right thing and collectively vote against their traditional party line – no easy feat. Enough folks chose to vote their conscience (or just stay home and not vote, given that voting for a heathen Democrat was just too painful…which I guess is at least half as good).

Further, lots of notable Republicans stood against Moore, which might cost them political capital within certain ranks of their own party.  Kudos!

Finally, the fight against sexual assault and harassment continues barrelling forward, claiming several well-deserving victims from both parties. More importantly, you have a meaningful number of Democratic lawmakers and some of their Republican peers calling on members of their own party to resign. Again, kudos for your objectivity, and ability to set aside party affiliation in the interest of doing what’s right.

That said, Washington generally continues to be a mess. Lots of the Republican establishment were out there shilling for their guy in Alabama, with most being completely transparent that all that matters is retaining their 2 vote majority in the Senate. You can’t represent the country when you lack objectivity and independence.

I’m telling you…when you’re not beholden to a party or the special interests that fund your reelection campaign, you are free to think more rationally.  To make decisions that will be good for the entire country.  There’s nothing wrong with having strong beliefs and convictions…its that passion that’s helped make American such a strong and successful nation.  But its all for naught when folks spend as much effort ensuring the failure of their opponents as their own success.

Again, this is not a right or left thing.  Both parties have contributed significantly to this issue over the past 20+ years.  If our leaders were genuinely willing to work across the aisle and put forth bills and policy that take into account the needs and perspective of all Americans, they would not need to be so worried about controlling Congress or the White House. Think about it.

If you fix the broken system of corruption and misalignment of interests, and start electing more leaders that are willing to think and act independently, everyone will finally win.

A guy can dream, right.