Have you been following the politicians during the current Presidential race?  It is really frustrating to see that it's business as usual for every politician I've listened to or read about.  They preach more government to solve whatever problem or issue they are focusing on at the moment.  Why do you suppose they don't address the real issues?  It's almost as if, by mutual consent, they have decided what is important enough to rouse the voters.  The old bromide about treating the symptoms and not the cause.

Of course, they may realize that we have become so accustomed to politicians lying or making promises they have no intention of keeping, that we don't listen to them.  Running for political office has become more of a popularity issue than one of intelligence.  The candidates have to be "beautiful" people, photogenic and well spoken.  And by well spoken I don't mean someone able to clarify the issues and offer rational solutions.  I mean someone who is good at sounding sincere and concerned and hiding the issues under double talk.  In this day of television a homely man, such as Abe Lincoln wouldn't have stood a chance.

Why aren't the candidates telling the people that government is out of control and that something must be done to make it responsive to the people.  For example, there has been a poliferation of agency run by bureaucrats who were never elected, who are proposing regulations that have the force of law.  These bureaucrats are not only costing us tons of money, but are complicating our lives.  And once a bureau is established, it seems to have an eternal life of its own, ever growing and becoming more powerful.  And yet, the majority of the candidates I've listened to propose new agencies for nearly every problem that comes up.

Let's face it, the problem is not a lack of agencies, it's that the government has become so damned big the right hand doesn't even know what the left hand is doing.  In my novel, An Eagle Unchained, which should be on the market by the first of the year, I point out some of the redundancies in the government.  For example, there are 342 economic development programs, 130 programs serving the disabled, 130 programs serving at-risk youth, 90 early childhood development programs, and 72 federal programs dedicated to assuring safe water.  With so many programs with overlapping responsibilities is it any wonder that you have to go through a maze to find someone to help with a specific problem?

I think the major focus of the candidates should be controlling the growth of government, and eliminating all the duplication.  What do you think the major problems are?  Do you think the candidates are doing what they can to address those problems, or do you think it's business as usual with them?  Let me hear your thoughts.