Time for the Next Generation of Politics

Next year will be my ten-year reunion from high school. At twenty-seven years old, I’ve been apart of many campaigns, have attended two inaugurations, have attended a political convention, and have demonstrated in a major Supreme Court case that ended in the favor of which I was demonstrating for given the case. I have also run for, unsuccessfully, office twice.  I do like campaigns and I do like fighting for what I believe what is right; at some point I will be elected and when I do, I hope that I will able to make the decisions that represent all of my constituents. Until then, I will continue to work on campaigns and be hold an active role in shaping the political landscape, both on the state and national levels.

     It really don’t surprise me that Congressman John Dingle, democrat representing the constituents of the twelfth district of Michigan, is retiring from the United States House of Representatives. He was first elected to congress back in the 1950s…1955 to be exact.  To date, this retirement marks the ninth one for the democrats and the republicans are not immune to retirement, as eleven of their members will not see re-election. While some will be missed for their service, if not all of them, it paves the way for the up-and-coming generations to take their place.  Another important point is that it provides opportunities for Congress to truly be more representative of the country. With all of these retirements unfold, and I don’t believe they are over as I image at least five more members will not seek re-election, it will only boost the profiles of women, Hispanics, and other minorities (of both race and beliefs) will be elected to office.  In fact, we are already seeing “the establishment” starting to evolve into younger and more diverse candidates and their points of views regarding the best course for the United States.  In fact, states are even breaking traditions and we will see by the end of the night of the 2014 Election Day. Hopefully, there will be more candidates elected to office that are of a third party as the current political parties can’t seem to agree on anything except no raising of taxes and continuing resolutions.

     The midterms will hopefully break up the “lame duck” status that has frozen Washington into a stalemate. Since Congress is unwilling to work with the President (which is interesting because the past shows that Congress manages to work with the President regardless of administration) and trying to say just enough to get re-elected, it only make sense for this President to use his Presidential authority to get things done that benefit the people he represents. The republicans can’t afford to jeopardize their already minimal relationship with the general public; furthermore, they cannot go into upcoming presidential election cycle with high partisanship and old century ideas. The democrats could also learn that partisanship is just as bad for them as their friends across the aisle – the best course is to talk and explain one’s position instead of looking at someone and going, “well, they are a republican so they must be stupid and don’t (or won’t) understand my position on this issue.” Going back to the republicans for a minute, they have to understand that not every American is living in the earlier part of the previous century.  In the twenty-first century, people are tired of partisan bickering. They want real solutions to the problems facing the country they live in and are proud of since their childhood. Let the new generation of politics come crashing in by the end of the 2014 midterms!