WHO HAS THE MANDATE NOW?

Before anyone takes a bow and starts talking about how great they are and that’s why they got the vote… before any political party starts talking about how terrific the results were for them and what they are going to do or not do over the next two years…. Let’s get one thing straight: the only winners here are the people and the people have said loud and clear that they are tired of “politics as usual.” They are tired of the relentless spending when they themselves are out of work or on declined wages. They are fearful of the national debt and what it means for their grandchildren. They are upset with the passing of the unread stimulus bill and highly unpopular health care bill. They are resentful at being ignored and told to shut up.

Those who remain in office can consider themselves damned lucky and they had better well understand the message: change your method of doing things or you will be next to hit the street; 2012 is just around the corner. For those who just won a new office, understand that you have the job mostly because the people don’t like the job that your predecessor did and, unless you listen to what the people have to say and react accordingly, you too will be tossed back out; so, don’t get too comfortable in your new office digs, regardless of your political party.

No one got a mandate except the people, and the people’s mandate is to keep a sharp eye on the politicians going forward and to pay attention to what they say and what they do. No one expects this situation we are in to get better tomorrow, but we do expect that those we elected will roll up their sleeves and start to take proactive measures to get people back to work. We expect the mess created in the first two years to be mitigated, and promptly.

Those who are being turned out will undoubtedly have the urge to stick it to the voters who turned them out and to pass crappy legislation before the year is out. This is all about punishing your enemies while you still can. If that happens, there will be hell to pay.

Let’s be clear: The American public is not to blame for what has happened, and if the politicians in all of their high and mighty arrogance don’t get that message, our anger will not subside.