Two years to rebuild

Now Conservatives have two years to rebuild the movement .

In this group , I include people from all sides in the recent election .
Many ran toward the center in order to get elected , including Republicans and Democrats .
Now the real center of the political spectrum needs to assert itself in the
political process in order for any substantive good to come from the political power
shift the voters have demanded . The center must speak out locally , regionally ,
and nationally in order to keep Washington on the road to better government .
I truly believe there are good politicians on both sides , just as there are
corrupt ones . The American public says it is tired of the staus quo in Washington ,
and in most state governments , but will we insist that our elected representatives
live up to election promises ?

I believe we can and should be ever watchful for those who become enamored
with the power offered them in office . The practice of always looking for political
favor from the special interest groups , and passing "pork projects" for states
is one of the evils of our representatives . Too often , these take precedence
over what may be good for the country . Almost every member of Congress from the
beginnings of our nation has succumbed to the temptation to get more for his or her
state and/or "friends" and this practice must be tempered by fairness , reality ,
and legality .

In the next two years we will see if the new powers that be can rise above past
ills and go forward to rebuilding our government . I don't mean that they have to
rewrite any laws or make any new ones , just that they need to govern justly
and in line with the wishes of the population . I also hope the Left doesn't go on
a witch hunt , thus ignoring the problems that led to the current situation .
It will take co-operation and bi-partisanship to achieve any lasting goals .

Some may have to reassess their label as conservative or liberal in order to stay
in power , and this would be an improvement in itself .

Democrats have to live up to promises of bringing government back to their con-
stituents by remaining as centrist as they seemed to be in their campaigns .
This can be done in part by not veering off to the far left as soon as in office .

Republicans have to re-assert themselves as a small-government party by abandoning
many of the faults they have acquired in the last six years in power . This may
require quite a bit of self-inspection on their part to rid themselves of the
image they have in the eyes of constituents .

The citizens have to become more aware of the function of government , and their
demands on government . We , as citizens must impress upon government our
awareness and hold them accountable for their actions , or inactions .