It’s unusual for a United States Congressman or Senator to speak to the facts of our broken government. It’s even more unusual when it is a GOP Senator.

Ben Sasse was elected by the citizens of Nebraska one year ago this week. He joined other GOP candidates who reversed the balance of power in the Senate. Although the floor of the Senate chamber was virtually empty as he spoke, his words will undoubtedly resonate with the American people.

“If I can be brutally honest for a moment: I’m home basically every weekend, and what I hear — and what I’m sure most of you hear — is some version of this: A pox on both parties and all your houses. We don’t believe politicians are even trying to fix this mess.”

For years I have been saying that the only thing the vast majority of politicians care about is getting elected. Far too many in Washington have made politics a career, an occupation which originated as a volunteer position. Only a single remedy would change the status quo; it’s time for term limits, and that time is long overdue.

Sasse’s summation was accurate and to the point: “The people despise us all.”

When I was a very young boy I listened to my grandfather and uncle complain about politicians. As I grew older and became interested in our nation’s political system I realized that the truth was that it was impossible for those in our federal government to make everyone happy about every issue. Compromise produced results with more positive aspects than negative. That was then; today everyone complains about the failure of our government to do its job, and they have no excuses for our government’s complete gridlock.

To sum up the reason Washington has become useless, a short description of each party’s internal problems reveals the truth.

The GOP is no longer a united party. The reality is that it’s two parties under one banner. There has been a constant battle internally for over six years. Experienced Republicans have encountered TEA Party extremists who promised never to compromise; never discuss the issues with Democrats. The result is the debacle we are all witnessing during this campaign season. Voters are rejecting those who actually work in Washington in lieu of two totally inexperienced and unqualified men who are seeking the GOP nomination for the presidency. The party is imploding.

Democrats can be described fairly as ‘wimps.’ They know what their constituents want from them but are all too often afraid to take action. Their concern; they might lose votes when seeking reelection. For seven years many on the left have failed to support their president, and the result was the loss of both houses in the midterm election one year ago.

Sasse also defined the character of our elected officials, or the lack of: “To the grandstanders who use this institution as a platform for outside pursuits: Few believe the country’s needs are as important to you as your ambitions.”

The problem rests on the shoulders of the American voting public. Few of our citizens, especially those under 35 years of age, pay much attention to their government until an election year. Then they see ads on television, and vote for those lies and deceptive tactics. Worse, many vote for the party of a candidate, knowing little or nothing about the actual candidate and his or her platform.

Next year’s general election will be one of the most important in our nation’s history. International affairs combined with multiple serious domestic issues require a president and legislators who will work hard across party lines to solve each critical situation. Just saying ‘no’ will not work. Deliberation and compromise must return to the floor of the Capitol Building.

Why isn’t Sasse a candidate for 2016?

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

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Photo Courtesy of Gage Skidmore

Author’s Page http://www.amazon.com/By-James-turnage/e/B00LOCJ2Z2