We either live in a land of law, or we're peasants ruled by men. We can either abide by a set of rules, or obey the whims of our Beltway Overlords. Either way, it's up to you.
It's your choice.
U.S. Constitution, Article. V.
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
The law of the land does not provide for the whims of politicians, nor even the whims of the majority. Yet, nobody seems to give a rat's behind about that anymore - left or right.
Instead, we base our positions, and whom we vote for, on Team affiliation, personalities, promised hand-outs, and "wedge" issues ... a losing proposition if you ask me.
But hey, what do I know? I'm not part of the Beltway Elite.
Ah, The Blame Game
I submit that the requirement for the single name getting the blame/credit will diminish over time. Adults don’t require micro-management. They require transparency, simplicity, and reproducibility for policies. The Federal payroll, one would think at first blush, should taper off over time. The fact that it’s increasing is bizarre and counter-intuitive if you take ‘civil servant’ at face value.
Those who are stuck in a legacy mode of personality-driven leadership are going to continue to make big deals over Potty Mouth Rahm or Inky Palm Sarah.
A different, dare we say, unprecedented approach would be to exercise Article V of the Constitution. Let us disabuse ourselves of the notion of the Beltway reforming itself. Congress is a financial molester, and if you hope for anything save recidivism, you’ll become an expert hoper. They. Won’t. Fix. Jack. Willingly, at least. I say that to dampen in advance the expectation that an unprecedented November avalanche at the polls will deliver the necessary colonic irrigation to DC ...
No, I think it’s worse than that, and that nothing less than a bottom-up tsunami of State legislatures sharpening Article V Amendment knives is going to halt the slide into Europification of this country. The passion of the people is great, but it needs to be transformed into cold analysis and structural rearrangement to amount to much. If we don’t mend our ways, merely changing out the names will leave all the blockage in place, awaiting the next blame game. (emphasis added)
America started with the smallest government in history. Today it has the biggest!
There's a difference between playing politics and affecting change ... The choice is yours. Which will you choose?
UPDATE:
[...] out the names will leave all the blockage in place, awaiting the next blame game.Update: linked at The Classic Liberal var addthis_pub='smitty1e';var addthis_language='en';var addthis_options='twitter, digg, email, [...]
Well said. Forget politics. Plow through with ideas. Many people are ready to hear them now. Forget the games. The people have tired of them. Present a clear and consistent message, and for God's sake, follow through!