Change your Vote Instead of Complaining about the Politicians

There is a story of a man who ate at a restaurant and complained that the potatoes were cold and lumpy, the gravy had the texture of jello, the string beans were undercooked, the bread was dry, there was no butter, and the meat was burned.  When asked for any other comments he replied, “Yes, the portions were too small, it costs too much, and the food is the same week after week!”

Before you laugh at this man, this story is no different than politics here in California. How many times have you heard someone complain about politics? However, despite the fact that politicians have such a low respect in this state, people keep voting for incumbents.

However, the diner is not the only one who complains about the food but keeps going back to the same restaurant. Over the last several years, the Contra Costa Times has bewailed at length the problems in the state. Often the Times has blamed feckless, linguine-spined, gutless, sold-out-to-special- interest-group politicians for putting the state in the mess it is in.  For the most part this is true.

At present, budgets are unbalanced, public pension are unfunded, roads are in need of repair, unemployment is too high, education is still not receiving a passing grade, …..and water, or lack thereof, are still burning issues.  So after all the name calling and lamentations of the Contra Costa Times, it endorses the same politicians it had previously excoriated. 

Are there any other comments?  “Yes, the portions were too small, it costs too much, and it is the same thing election after election after election.”  So evidently the cure to broken promises and a fiscal mess is to, yes, you guessed it, a larger portion of the same broken promises and fiscal messes.  I ask you, do we really expect the same politicians to suddenly change their profligate ways or even their votes?   I doubt it.  If the past is prologue, we can expect more of the same problems of the past in the future. 

It is the last full week of this political season.  Some votes have been cast but most are still to be cast.  You have a choice of candidates, local initiatives, and state wide propositions.  For those ballots yet to be cast, it is prudent to consider what is really at issue. 

Ideologies have consequences and these ideas translate themselves into votes for certain tax increases or other regulatory policies.  The recurring pattern observed with the Democratic Party is higher taxes and more regulations.  People mistakenly believe that the taxes are for the “rich” even when it is clear that it is a tax increase for everyone. 

Some feel that “their” politician would do them no harm by his vote.  On the surface this may seem true, but when similarly minded party politicians vote in concert, the results are felt not only at the state level but they trickle down to the local level as well.

So how do you vote?  Ask yourself if you are totally content with the condition of the state of California, not just your personal neighborhood.  If you are, then vote for the incumbent.  However, if you have the feeling that the state is not as prosperous as it once was, if regulations are affecting your pocketbook, and if the present ideology is creating more problems than solving them; do not vote for the incumbent. 

Einstein’s definition of insanity is a truism regarding California politics. Einstein said that “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

For too long we have voted for the same politicians again and again and have gotten the same disastrous results. It is time the voters try a different approach and vote the incumbents out of office.  Just like we need to go to a different restaurant rather than complain about the quality of the food, the cost of the meal and the portions, we need to vote for fresh leadership.