There’s been a lot of talk lately about voting out all incumbents.  I certainly understand the sentiment, but it’s not the right way to go about it.  I know, they are working on a health care bill that no one wants.  It’s easy to think we should just fire them all.

Still wrong.  Think about it.  I know most of my readers work for a living.  What if your boss came to you and said that you would no longer have a job as of this time next year?  Would you continue to work hard and do your best?  Hardly.  You’d do just enough to get by.  Maybe.  You’d probably spend an awful lot of your work hours cleaning up that resume and networking.  It’s something generally referred to as short timer syndrome, and it’s the last thing you want to afflict your representatives with.

Personally, I’d much rather they focus on their jobs than doing favors for lobbyists to secure promises of future employment.  Do you really think anyone would push a vote on the constitutionality of the bill if they knew there was no way for them to get re-elected?  I know, politicians and diapers need to be changed regularly and for the same reason, but we’ve got to commit to support the ones that are actually doing their jobs.

It’s perfectly legitimate to threaten to vote for their opponent if they aren’t serving you as their constituent, but you can’t make blanket promises to vote against everyone.  There are actually a few of them fighting hard against this thing.  Firing them all isn’t the answer.

Campaign against anyone that isn’t following the will of the people.  Their job is to represent us.  If they don’t, vote them out.  If they do, support them.  Renew their contracts.  Make it worth their time and energy to do the right thing.  Remind them who they work for. Remind them that it is your money they are spending.