Big Bucks

What is some Democrats problem with money? I often read scathing comments regarding Haliburton and other corporations that make money for politicians. During the campaigns I was often reminded how out of touch with 'regular' people the Republican party is because they are 'rich'. That sort of thing makes me somewhat curious, especially when our Senators of both parties make in excess of $100,000 a year and have a benefit package that I would like to experience myself. Then we have the Kerry/Edwards ticket. Mr. Kerry's wife is heiress to the Heinz 57 varieties corporate dollars. I pretty much think we are talking millions of dollars there as well. Then we move on to the Edwards camp and find that Mr. Edwards was a million dollar lawyer as well. My reason for pointing out this easy to obtain information is to bring to mind that it can be possible that neither party has a clue to what it is like for 'regular' people like me who make less than $50,000 a year and struggle with things like not buying that lottery ticket!
Once upon a time though, the Democratic party may have been a little closer to the 'regular' person on the street and we can all thank them for the expansion of government intrusion in our lives via the social programs they brought to our nation; social programs that pull our nation towards socialism rather than the constitutional republic that the founders intended for our nation.
Indeed I was once a registered Democrat because I truly believed that they cared more about me, my family, and issues close to my heart. I have found however, that is not the case, as well as discovered that the majority of the party members were as out of touch with the people as they accused the Republicans of being! This of course led to a number of years when I did not vote at all and had a very low opinion of any politician.
Fast forward a number of years and now I am a registered Republican who votes independent but has the heart of a Democrat; but only as far as caring for others with compassion and not necessarily big bucks, goes.
I have also discovered that just about anyone can be a politician, but what we need more of, and what it takes greater character to be, is a stateman, or woman. This is the person who is in Washington to truly represent the people and their interests. Rather than lump all politicians and all of Washington into a big pile of disregard, I began to pick through the various members of Congress. I found, in the House, some exemplary representatives, and a few in the Senate as well. I began to watch the way that they voted and tuned into C-SPAN a little more often than before, to see how they treated one another as well as how they represented the American people.
For me, ideally what the Congress should be doing, is taking steps to shrink government, not expand it. It is our only hope to bring the budget under control and it is our only hope to loosen their hold on so many aspects of our lives. This is a bipartisan problem also, it is not the exclusive fault of one party over the other. That why when I am reading the news and see the finger pointing they do, I take it with a grain of salt. We, the people, should be aware that there are people in Washington, across party lines, that don't give a hoot about us, but are pumped up with the power that is Washington politics. To this end, being blindly loyal to a party, is not in the interest of the nation. Nor is allowing ourselves to fall for the 'rich Republican' 'Demcrat=regular people' game that takes our attention off the important issues of our day.