We have all seen spectacular videos of surfers catching a wave, dancing forward and back, and being driven into the sand as the wave breaks. We are continuing to see performances of our representatives in Washington as they ride the waves of bond default and international financial reputation. We must wait until the 2012 election to see which politicians get off the wave of emotion in time to avoid being "wiped out" in the ballot boxes.
The default wave is big indeed. A trickier wave is how far into the future the debt limit gets extended. But the rogue wave is cutting Medicare. Misjudging which wave to ride will end political careers. Some candidates for office promise to replace an incumbent and go to Washington with a new agenda. That agenda morphs into getting reelected soon after the reformer arrives in our capitol. The charm of the TV camera, excellent health care plan and the money that lobbyists lavish on incumbents no doubt explain the goal of reelection. Reelection in "safe districts" is not uncommon. With reelection comes seniority and a surplus of money in the campaign war chest. That builds alliances and the courage to ride the big waves. The surfing videos seldom show the surfer lying on the beach with a concussion and contusions after overplaying the thrill of the ride.
The coming fifteen months will bring one big emotional wave after another. If you have faith that something positive can be achieved by legislation in the face of political campaigns dominated by the desire to be reelected, please write to your Representative and Senators. Tell them that a rational energy policy must not be put off. Regulated offshore drilling, alternative energy sources, biofuel boondoggles and recognition of global warming are crucial long-term issues. | 