Politics and elections! In the words of Charlie Brown, “good grief.” It’s that time again. Be it local, state or national office, candidates are politicking non-stop. TV commercials, newspaper ads, road signs, and junk mail asking for money so the candidate can continue “the fight.”
All this barrage of rhetoric in an effort to get your vote (and financial contribution). But again, that is the function of a democratic republic. It sure is messy but it is the best form of government on the planet. Our founding fathers knew this and provided for a system to maintain it and that is what we call “elections.” They also knew that being educated about the candidates and the election system was very important. Hence the establishment of the electoral college. But now the times have changed, or have they?
When college age young adults are asked what country bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941 and they don’t know, that is sad. Answers ranged from Germany to “The South.” Another example; a male adult was asked what is the craziest thing he has ever done while high on drugs? His answer; “drove a car to a STOP sign and waited for it to turn green.” I heard this with my own ears, folks. Yet, they can vote!
The mid-term elections for the United States Congress will take place in November of 2026. Do young adults even know why these elections are referred to as “mid-terms?” Mid-term is between Presidential Elections every four years! The election of the president and vice-president are the ONLY national elections. All the rest are state elections. One third of the Senate is elected every two years. All members of the House of Representatives are elected every two years. Senators are elected for 6-year terms. House members are elected for two-year terms. The Senate and the House of Representatives together are referred to as Congress.
The subject of term limits has been in the news lately for various reasons: 1) service of 30 to 40 years for some individuals, 2) aging and ailing health for others, 3) acquisition of wealth from donors, 4) and power and influence for control. Folks, just because these individuals are serving as representatives in the federal government, they are not elected in a national election. They are elected in state elections! Think about it. Term limits can and should be determined by state legislation. The politicians themselves will never vote for term limits. Even the state legislators will, more than likely, not support term limits. The voters must campaign and lobby for this action.
Now on the flip side of the issue. A few honorable men have taken the action of serving in congress at the national level and have voluntarily ended their term of service. Trey Goudy served in the House of Representatives and left of his own accord. Senator Tommy Tuberville is in the process of leaving the swamp. Career politicians, at the national level are not there to serve, as they claim, but to have power, influence and get rich. Sadly, the facts bear this out. Think not! Then fight the battle of congressional transparency such as; public servant, what is your salary? Public servant how many houses do you own? Public servant, what is your net worth? Public servant, why is US tax dollars sent to foreign countries? Public servant, why is there financial fraud in the federal government?
Today, the word “politician” is beginning to be synonymous with words like corrupt and liar. So, when corrupt persons are in elected office, the system becomes corrupt. It takes a good person to make the system good. And fortunately, in our 250 years of self-governing, we have had a “Few Good Men.”
Walter Allen is a graduate of TCHS and Auburn University. He is retired from the paper industry and is a published author. A former president of the Laurens County Museum Assoc. in Laurens, SC. He lives in Tuscaloosa County, AL.
