Mid Term Election Analysis: One Point of View

On September 7, I posted an opinion piece that stated that this mid-term election would give insight into the mindset of the American people and whether or not government scandals such as secret prisons and sexual predators would lead to a call for change.

So, with all the talk of who 'won' and who 'lost' I think it's time for a bit of reality here. The Republicans lost the majority in the House of Representatives, and may have done so in the Senate, the later by the slimmest of margins. This is not the resounding victory, that the Democrats would like to claim. Instead I see it as an expression of disapproval for the GOP, combined with a real skepticism about politicians in general.

In short, the American people have voted for change - but it seems that we are unsure where to find it and are now firmly sitting on the fence.Based on a social responsibility model (listening to changing customer needs and desires) combined with the necessary role of government to lead, here are the lessons I believe that either party needs to learn.

1. End the war in Iraq. Enough with the posturing and fingerpointing. We all know how we got into this mess. What we need now is a new policy and an action plan to get out of it. Here is a simplified action list, for the first 30 days. A) Provide every man and woman serving in the Armed Forces with the tools and equipment that they need to do the job. This includes body armor. And it also includes B) a definition of success and C) develop and implement a plan that focusses on stablizing the region, allows self-determination in Iraq and eliminates the safe haven for terrorists that has been created.
2. It is time to identify, prosecute and remove everyone, regardless of party affiliation, who has succumbed to the temptations of power including (a) sexual predation and (b) corruption through financial incentives. Behavior that has no place in corporate offices cannot continue to take place in the halls of Government.
3. The political parties should take the next two years to develop their own 'contract with America' style platforms outlining what they stand for and stop relying on malfeasance and corruption on the part of their opposition as their strategy.
4. In business we have shareholder meetings. In America we have the right to express our views, the right to peacefully assemble, media that is free and unfettered, and the right to vote. Those are powerful tools. We must hold ourselves as well as those we elect accountable.