We last discussed “Reality Show” voting and the way voters have become very fickle over the last few years.
Today, let’s analyze “reality show” governing. Contestants arrive at the prescribed location and are psyched to win. They are pumped up. After months of talking “smack”, or in this case, promoting their platform to the roars of cheering crowds, they are ready to march to victory and change the world.
They said they would eliminate waste, strengthen the borders, put people back to work and make our county, state, city better! You believed in them and voted them into the game.
Welcome to “survival”. The “song and dance” routines have begun. Exactly where is all that fat in the budget? Yes, over in your area. My schools, you see, need their budgets but yours could be trimmed. My university alma mater is outstanding so it deserves less budget cuts than yours. My district needs this special public works project because without it, the river will flood thousands of people. In order to keep my position with the voters, I must deliver this project.
Welcome to the “real world”. Life here is not as easy as was expected. “Surviving” on food and water you must kill and collect is not easy. Rehearsing for days on end makes your muscles hurt from head to toe. Being the “biggest loser” is much harder than expected. Tears are shed and genuine fear sets in among the contestants.
In the last few seasons of reality shows, players have even quit voluntarily. We saw similar experiences in the 2010 elections. Long time Members of Congress decided not to seek re-election. Some didn’t run again because they thought they would lose anyway. Others were genuinely tired of working for an unappreciative public.
Much to the surprise of many of this year’s contestants, governing is actually very hard work. There are no simple, sound-bite solutions in tough budget times. All the promises made on the trail or hard to live up to once “reality” sets in among our players.
The “reality” is that governments from Washington D.C. to states, cities and rural counties are struggling with their finances. All the socially conscious bills in the world will not change this fact. The bottom line must be addressed.
So, bring it on. Your viewers are watching and strongly considering who will be voted out next!