I voted for men and women I believed underswtood the importance of negotiation and compromise. I beleived they would be caretakers in my best interest.  Now I second guess the priorities of those elected to public office. They have benefits that last their lifetime. They live a lifestyle that no longer reflects the lifestyle of most of America. They make decisions without realizing the consequences. If only they were as good at compromise as they are at the blame game.

There are no shortcuts. Please step up. Listen to "we the people" at least as much as you do to special interest groups. Your actions are more important than rhetoric. Do you remember what it was like when you walked a mile in our shoes? If you want time away from Washington to gain perspective, may I suggest that instead of heading home or the election trail, you spend time in nursing homes and assisted living to see how many seniors are living. Speak with doctors and hospital personnel who deal with the consequences of cuts in medicare and the red tape of insurance on a daily basis. Spend time in a Veterans Hospital and learn firsthand the challenges our men and women who have served face each day. Speak to head of households and learn what daily life is like for families in today's economy. Learn how it feels to have bought your dream home only to find it now valued less than what you paid. You find yourself upside down.

In the movie Dave the pseudo president brought in an accountant to review the budget. We the people don't know the many line items our budget contains. No doubt it can take pruning. Maybe we need to take a lesson from a movie: "You don't know how much you can do until you stand up and try."