Too Much Same-Old In Washington

We need new blood in Washington! Unfortunately, the power of the incumbents assures little turnover in the halls of Congress resulting in, among other things, a less democratic institution. It has been said that there was more turnover in the old soviet politburo than there is today in the Congress of the United States.

The will of the people is not likely to get a high priority when a politician’s job is essentially assured unless he or she commits some unspeakable crime. Term limits would solve all of this but you can guess what career politicians, who would have to vote them in, think of the idea. Sorry, I forgot about all that priceless experience we would have to forgo if we had term limits.

It’s time for a change, for some new faces with new ideas and just maybe less partisan politics. Bernie Sanders continues to practice the same old class warfare model that has helped to return him to Congress year after year. It is a sure vote-getter. Attack the mean spirited business community and promise to increase taxes on the greedy rich, to pay for ever more government run programs.

A message that over time has driven an irreconcilable wedge between him and the job-creating private sector. Vermont has suffered as business folks have fled from what they perceive to be a hostile environment.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have some new faces in our congressional delegation less experienced in the dysfunctional ways of the beltway? New faces who truly believe in our system that economic progress for all people is more likely to be achieved if we can only mitigate the heavy hand of government. New faces that will encourage business people and entrepreneurs to invest in Vermont rather than scare them away.

Rich Tarrant is not a career politician, does not speak like one, has never fed at the public trough and is clearly a self-made man who knows how to create jobs and opportunity for the working folks. Let’s give him a chance to move the country a little more in the direction of the land of opportunity rather than one of more and more dependence on the public sector to solve all of life’s problems.

It is, I believe, fair to say that Bernie, unlike Rich Tarrant, has produced a lot of harsh rhetoric but precious few jobs.

Fred Riehl

Quechee

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