Electing individuals with principles

This election year and in 2016 is again going to be critical elections as we choose the path our country will move forward with in the coming years. We have a number of issues not the least of which is our growing deficit and the culture in Congress to spend, spend and spend without regards to the impact of increasing our national debt. This philosophy or culture must change if we are ever to get our economy growing again.

Positive change is needed with regards to the operations and philosophy now in existence in Congress. You may ask how this will come to pass the answer is electing individuals or returning them to their legislative positions who care more about the country than their political party philosophy. It is sad to say there are those who vote the party line position on issues/legislation than what is right for the country. There are individuals who do break with party positions and vote their conscience but these are the exception rather than the rule. Party position should not matter when a decision needs to be made on a piece of legislation. Decisions should be based on the content and the methods to address the subject of the legislation. In addition often times there are many amendments which are added to legislation which has no bearing or connection and should not be allowed to be a part of the content. The principle of adding amendments to legislation without a connection to the topic should be changed. It is hoped that electing individuals with principles that this practice may be changed but it will be a difficult process to make this happen.

Amendments to legislation is in many cases what has been called pork to which give the appearance that it is money wasted when the amendment could not stand on its own. Principled individuals should ignore this type of activity. Amendments are basically proposals and in the real world which some may feel does not exist in Congress these proposals would not see the light of day. I understand that elected officials want to show they are doing something for their constituents and the country but acting responsibility in making decisions on legislative proposals is the right activity. Decisions on legislation should be based on actually reading it to know what is in it to make good decisions. Voting on legislation which has not been read by our elected officials is the wrong approach. Some say that there are too many pieces of legislative proposals to read each and every one but elected officials must understand this is their responsibility before making a decision.

It is understood that many legislative proposals are initiated each legislative session some say they number in the thousands in Washington, D.C. this in and of itself is a problem. How can any legislative individual honestly evaluate and read each piece of legislative proposal. The integrity of the process seems to be out of control if the number created range in the thousands. Each legislative organization can make changes to their process and the rules under which they operate according to the Constitution. Individuals of principle those already elected and those to be elected can change the rules to make a review of proposals on which they will ultimately vote more manageable. This goes for the House of Representatives and the Senate. Multiple legislative proposals often address the same topic. While there needs to be some openness in the legislative process for individuals who have ideas they need to be some efficiency in the process.

Reducing the number of legislative proposals into one or possibly two which address the same subject would streamline the process and allow all elected officials to properly evaluate proposals before voting on them. This will take a number of individuals with principle in both houses to make this kind of change in their operational policy.

We need individuals of principle who match their decisions with the principles they present to their constituents. There are good individuals in both political parties who care about this country but the problem seems to be or at least the appearance is that there are not enough of them to make a difference. We not only need individuals with principles but individuals who will work together regardless of their political party to make the right decisions for our country and for our states.

The political culture over the last few years and some say for many years leave the impression that the philosophy is the government knows best for the people. This philosophy or concept of government operations is the wrong path for our economy. The law of supply and demand and the principles embodied within private industry over the years and perhaps a long time when left alone has been vibrant. Imposing laws and/or regulations which embody the government knows best philosophy is hurting our economic conditions and our recovery as a country.

Not all decisions made by Congress have been bad with regards to some laws as they were needed to protect the rights of citizens and having said that the principles or purposes involved need to be the right ones. Making laws and issuing regulations for the betterment of our country and the issues involved is necessary but only if they are the right ones not the ones which incorporate political party philosophy. Voters have positions on the issues and many voice their opinions to their elected officials and when their representatives/senators ignore these positions they project they are not individuals of principle. This may not always be the case but ignoring public opinion is never a good choice for a politician given our present state of affairs.

All elected officials must listen to their constituents and their positions if they want to remain in their elected positions. Granted there are times when the decisions made are not in agreement with the public position but these should be the exception rather than the rule. Our elected officials often times have access to information which makes a decision the right choice but other times given the facts decisions made are the wrong choice for our country and/or our state.

In summary we need to elected individuals with principles at all levels of government whose actions agree with the decisions or actions they have taken. It is one thing for a candidate for public office to make a statement that they are an individual of principle and quite another for their actions or decisions to match the principles which they profess to be part of their character. Making statements any statements must be backed with proof they are accurate and as a candidate this is what we as voters must evaluate them on not what the media reports.