A Full Tank of Gas Isn't What We Need

With the many Republican pickups across Congress, leaders from the resurgent party have begun their mission to stop the "Obama-Pelosi" agenda. Yet, the true result of a party turnover has been clear. A partisan switch amongst our governing houses does not mean concrete progress in policy.

It's not the people or the personalities that are the problem - it is the systems they run.

The obligatory call for bipartisanship from the losing party is a mockery to the necessary adaptations our systems must undertake.

Calling a midterm election a sign of a "electoral mandate" or a need for complete policy reversal is only sending our government into more permanent, lasting trouble. A steadfast concentration on effective policy will lead us out of these missteps.

For explanation's sake, let's borrow a metaphor.

When President Obama made a visit to USC's campus early last month, he spoke of a car. The car, according to Mr. Obama, was the American government.When in "D", "Drive" (or Democrat), the car went forward.

"Funny," said Obama, "the car goes backward in 'R' [Republican]."

Rather than being the gearbox however, consider the politicians as the gas of our "government car." The election of a new-and-improved Republican House was our version of a fresh tank of high-octane gas.

But we've got more serious issues than what can be fixed by some Techron. We've got a overheating radiator of a health care system, a sludge filled engine of economic growth, a leaking transmission's worth of job losses, even a blown gasket of a housing market.

Gas (congress) is supposed to breathe life to these systems, feed it the energy they need and keep them running well. A change in party control pails in magnitude to that responsibility, but media coverage and political rhetoric has put a spotlight on the "message" the American public is sending to the White House. The focus is on the wrong changes.

While the practices and the policies that were enacted by since the inauguration of Mr. Obama can be viewed as overreaching and expensive, the decision of the 2010 midterm election cannot be interpenetrated as a desire for a “redo” on behalf of the American people.

It’s like saying that switching mechanics halfway through our car’s repair is the best way to get the car fixed.

To call a more than $700 billion stimulus package decidedly wrong at this stage in our recovery from the 2008 financial meltdown is ludicrous. We simply just don’t know what direction our country is going.

In 2008, Americans made a clear choice that they wanted a change in legislation – a new agenda and a new take on spending. Two years into the Obama Presidency, voters are disappointed with our new policies. Yet to claim that they are failing, or that the American people want them retracted is blatantly irresponsible.

Congress must keep our systems moving forward until local, state and federal governments can create the long-term solutions we need.

Alongside the many safety nets and balancing mechanisms we have in place, our government can adjust to the new economic climate. The Legislative branch has to buy that time.

Through all of this, the one person who should recognize this fact, is Mr. Obama.

Luckily, he did.

As shown by his press conference from the East Room on the Wednesday following the voter beat-down, President Obama understands the vote’s clear message of dissatisfaction with his administration.

Yet, his calculated and business-as-usual demeanor sent an equally clear message of dissatisfaction with a sluggish set of governing systems.

Howard Kurtz released his own dissection of the Presiden’t demeanor, citing that “Obama seemed no more perturbed than if he had lost a family game of gin rummy.”

Ultimately, Mr. Obama must continue to seek out his agenda because he was voted into office on the promise of doing so.

The American voting public, who often dictates the narrative of media pundits and politicians alike, should not have entered the midterm election expecting to vote in a new flavor of politician that would completely retract the President’s agenda.

As a population we must swallow the weight of our vote 2 years ago and look to elect those who will progress our government rather than simply create dissonance. To expect a whole new government is mindless.

The politicians who enter Congress now, will fuel the policies and moving parts of our government that are supposed to last our society for years.

Without a working formula of gas to supply our "country car" with energy, America will stay in the shop for years to come. We must strive for the right formula of politician so we can fix our bigger problems.

After all, it's not the people or the personalities that are the problem in Washington - it is the systems they run that need repair.

This goes way beyond gas.