Reelection is the archenemy of courage

One thing is certain, the American people are growing tired of those who offer excuses for their inactivity.

Earlier this month, a Washington Post poll asked which party Americans trust the most to address the country’s largest problems. A record 20 percent of Americans indicated they put their faith in “neither” party, the highest percentage in over three decades.

One in five doesn’t trust either party to set aside partisanship long enough to tackle the big issues. Think about that; not abortion, or farm credits or even welfare. We’re talking about the ability of our country to meet its financial obligations, and 20 percent of Americans would rather see the milkman take an honest stab at it.

Hence the need for “doers,” those who are willing to check their party labels at the door, and, consequences be damned, they’re going to do what they feel is in the best interests of their constituents.

Keep in mind that courage without the first element — compromise — is folly. It’s not enough to get tough with the issues; one must be willing to not only go after someone else’s ox, they must be willing to place their own on the altar of fiscal discipline.

Reelection is the archenemy of courage. The two cannot coexist peacefully in this debt-reduction climate. At the very least, policymakers must rearrange their priorities to the point where getting elected to office is not the first and last thoughts that dictate the positions they take. It’s happening now with the collection of House Republican freshmen, and it will only fester as voters grow weary of gridlock.