Political Apathy

The Washington Times reports on a depressing trend in the Republican Party.  Despite all the hoopla surrounding the Tea Partiers and the fresh “Tea-Party-esque” Republican candidates who are seeing some popularity, the Republican Party is loathe to make any major moves.  Representative Paul Ryan has been promoting his “Roadmap for America’s Future” for some time now, and the plan has more recently been thrust into the limelight.  As with any comprehensive plan, very few people will agree with all of Ryan’s points, but he deserves credit for taking the time to actually compose a plan at all.

Sadly, long-standing Republicans do not share his enthusiasm.  Only 13 co-sponsors have signed on in the House, and, when asked about the plan, House Minority leader John Boehner said, “[Ryan did] some really, really good work in putting this plan together” but failed to comment further.  In fact, Boehner resorted to an Obama-like call for “an adult conversation” on these issues (read more of the article from The Times by clicking here).

We’d all like to have an adult conversation, but a real adult conversation involves putting your support behind real, tangible solutions.  Too many Republicans would rather bad mouth and point fingers at Democrats without offering anything substantive in return.  It’s easier to get reelected if you don’t commit to anything.

This has been the sad story of national politics for years (if not decades).  Let’s hope the chain gets broken this November.