Down The Sewer Pipe – Politically Speaking

With the big general election coming up in a few short months it a good idea, I think, to have a discussion about what it means to be elected.  Some people seem to think that be elected you must be rich, very smart, politically savvy, or some sort of “Brain”.

This is not actually true although one could be very rich, like FDR, or very smart, like Carter, or politically savvy, like Clinton, or some sort of “Brain” like Lincoln.  But all of that will not get you into elected to any office.

Your political savvy, smarts, wealth or lack of same will not get you elected or keep you from being elected.  You sell your self on your smarts; the ideas that you believe will make life better for your fellows.  Your political savvy is how you will do business in the give and take of getting the job done, and your wealth may not be an issue.

There are two things you need in order to attain elected office:

1. You have to run for the office, shake hands, meet and greet people.
2. You must have more votes than the other guy.

In the final analysis it really does not matter how politically savvy, rich or how great an intellect you are.  If you do not have more votes than your opponent you will not possess the office you seek.

So does campaign rhetoric actually matter?  Yes, because if you say you will do something, and then you fail to get it done, keeping the office you have just won will become harder.  Voters do not keep incumbents in office because they have money, possess political acumen, or are brilliant.

They do care if you enact policy’s that hurt them, cost them their jobs, or prevent them from doing something. So when you are able to bask in the glow of attaining an elected position remember, it is not your greatness that got you here.  What got you here is:  More votes than the other guy.

Sherman