RSSWhat Does the Election of Scott Brown Represent?
Dennis AuBuchon | February 12, 2010
The election of Scott Brown in Massachusetts is a signal to both parties that things need to change in the political landscape. Scott’s election along with events in other states in recent months represents the fact that the American people are not happy with the current environment in Washington, D.C. While the Republicans are ecstatic about the election of Scott Brown they along with Democrats must look at the reasons why he was elected. Granted reports indicate that the people of Massachusetts wanted to send a message to Washington but it is more than that.
There are many issues facing our country today but it is how those issues are being addressed that is causing concerns with the American voter. Massachusetts with the election of Scott Brown is sending a signal that those in Washington need to examine how they are presently conducting business. This examination is not associated with any one political party but it is the cultural environment in which Washington does business that must change. This change will not be easy as the current environment has existed for a number of years.
I am not criticizing all government officials in Washington, D. C. as there are many I am sure take their job and their elected positions seriously. I am also not criticizing all pieces of legislation that has been enacted over the years as many have addressed critical issues in the past and others are addressing critical issues in the future. Presently there are I believe many Senators and Representatives that truly want to serve the best interest of their constituents and the country. This election year voters will decide for those up for re-election if they are satisfied with the actions of those they have elected.
The election of Scott Brown and others will change the political landscape as many have said. How this occurs and what will change is left to be seen. Granted Scott Brown will be closely watched as to his actions in the coming days but his impact is already being felt. Those serving us in Washington already have to decide how the actions they have taken or will take in the future may change.
As previously stated there are many issues facing our country and how they will be addressed in the future will more than likely change as a result of recent elections. Our system of government is a good one and lets the voters decide who will be elected or re-elected. The current atmosphere in the country appears to be that voters are not happy. While this may be the case each candidate must be evaluated individually. Party affiliation is something that should not play into whether an individual gets elected. We as voters must look at the character of those asking us to elect or re-elect them and ask ourselves if we want them to continue serving us in their present capacity.
We are not going to be happy with all actions taken by our elected officials and we must consider the impact or potential impact of legislation already enacted or being processed. We must be informed of decisions made by our elected officials and this is easily accomplished through several avenues. Getting legislation passed is an established process within our system of government and often involves getting support from other members of Congress. Support for legislation should be given if it is the right legislation and addresses the topic in a responsible way. Legislation should be evaluated individually based on the merits it contains. This evaluation cannot be accurately determined without actually reading the legislation being presented.
In the past I have written about electing senators and representatives of integrity. Granted everyone makes mistakes but mistakes or bad decisions by our elected officials have far reaching impact on us as voters. As stated earlier we are not always going to agree with all decisions made by our elected officials but we must consider if the decisions made were made for the right reason. There are two questions to ask. The first is whether the decision made was based on the merits of the legislation and the other involves the will of the people. These are simple questions. What our elected officials must realize is they are there at our discretion. It is the voters who have the final say on actions and decisions made by their elected officials. There are many officials who will be asking for us to re-elect them and there are those who have elected to not run again for office.
In the scenario involving sending a new individual to replace someone who has decided not to run we must look closely at how individuals running for office have conducted themselves. This involves not only previous offices they have held but how they have handled themselves in the private sector. Where it involves a decision whether to re-elect an individual we must also examine how they have conducted themselves. As in those running against them the same criteria must be applied.
To get back to the point recent events in the political landscape have signaled that the public wants things to change. Elected officials must take note of the current public sentiment. They must remember they work for us not us for them. I am not implying that all elected officials feel this way. How they feel can be seen in the actions they have taken and the decisions they have made. Elected officials must or should put themselves in the place of the voters and ask if they would be happy with the current content and actions of the legislation before them. This is how decisions should be made. I must also point out that in the current environment decisions being made by Congress will be more closely reviewed in this election year.
There have been many statements by some elected officials as a result of the recent election results such as Scott Brown. One statement refers to the fact that no position is safe in any state. This is the way it should always be. No elected official should become so comfortable that he/she feels secure that they will be re-elected. Every elected official should feel they need to earn the right to remain in their position. Many elected officials serve many years and often they deserve it based on their actions and responses to their constituents concerns and needs. In previous elections it has been hard for incumbents to lose an election but this year may be different based on the current mood of the public. We will have to wait and see how the political landscape changes with the mid-term elections in November. Just the fact a mid-term election is taking place impacts decisions made by elected officials.
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