Two weeks to the Midterm Elections

The nation is two weeks away from the pivotal midterm elections and at stake is control of the United States Senate; Republicans need to win just six seats to gain control of the Senate for the first time since 2006.

Pundits on both sides have been predicting what state would go into the Republican or Democratic column, but all have stated this does not look like a good year for Democrats and for that matter President Obama.

The president’s poll numbers are at the lowest level of his presidency, as the public has soured on Obama’s handling of foreign policy, the economy and now the recent Ebola crisis.

As I have watched the various debates from gubernatorial races to the various U.S. Senate races throughout the country, and in each case it has always been the same.

Candidates from both political parties always reiterate campaign talking points without ever addressing the real issues. Too often candidates talk about how they are for the middle class but never articulate nor do the media ask what policies they will enact.

When they are not spewing prescribed campaign rhetoric, they attack each other with very dubious and often misleading campaign ads.  The public is plain fed up with Washington and for that matter all politicians as they continue to see their own economic well-being stagnate under the burdensome policies enacted by both parties.

Too often both political parties look and gauge policies like it’s a sporting match trying to figure out who won and who lost.  If their side lost the policy debate then they have to ensure the other who won, did so, but only after a terrible price has been paid.

The public wants the political brinksmanship to end and both Republicans and Democrats are equally to blame for the mess in Washington.  Unfortunately, most Americans are unaccustomed to learning wear the real problem lies, and that is with the American public!

This may be harsh, but if the public voted in a consistent manner we might have better accountability by our elected officials.  The last time the U.S. had over 60% of the eligible population voting was in 1968, when slightly over 60% of the population voted.

If we are to hold Washington accountable we need to vote and be better informed of the issues, and not be led by campaign rhetoric or candidates who reiterate campaign talking points that fit on a bumper sticker of a car.

We are better than that as a nation, and we should be more engaged as a country, if not then we get the government we deserve.