A rant on politics these days.

Warning: this is a rant.  Everything is complicated. Some statements oversimplify, but they are not meant to be taken out of context.  Obviously there are nuances and some of the things below should be viewed as headers, not details.  I was just getting my thoughts out.

This is what I want from my elected officials:

1. Be aware that you are holding a title of respect and that people elected you because they thought you would look out for the good of the community.
2. LOOK OUT FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY. NOT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ONLY. CITIZENS. Real citizens. Corporations are not citizens.
3. BE fiscally responsible.  Seriously, don't spend $ if we don't have $ or intend to pay it back. Don't take on everyone's debt load. Don't let the financial institutions get away with having no risks. Don't be those guys. Responsible citizens work hard and pay their debts. Responsible community members take pride and pay their taxes so they can get basic community things taken care of: first responders, trash pick up (and stored temporarily in a waste site), parks, courts, libraries etc... so prioritize these things and make sure they happen.
4. Be Ecologically responsible.  I want to live on this planet for several more decades. I assume my friends and their kids and my kids when I have them, and their kids, and all those other kids on the other side of the world do too. I'd appreciate it if you didn't vote against my and your own self interest when it comes to creating a biosphere that allows us to breathe, and eat and drink clean water. Those other animals and trees some people say they don't care about pollinate your food, keep diseases in check, make people happier when they see them, combat anxiety, protect against flooding and storm surges, provide shelter, inspiration, and filter water. And you especially can't have the energy that powers your home, the bricks or lumber that built your house or the textiles that clothe you. Don't act like you don't care. If you don't care about those things, you can't survive.
5. This means sometimes business interests go AFTER, let me say this again, AFTER, your community. We are citizens. NOT consumers. Not all of us are shareholders of that one company in your district, and if company X in your district is flowing gross crap into our waterways, yeah. be a woman/man and stand up to them. We elected you to do that. And if someone comes to you and sells you something trying to say well but my job my job, explain that their job will be better if the waterways are clean.  Give companies some time to create a remediation plan and then fix it.  But be reasonable, like 1 -2 years.  Seriously, don't give them forever, we don't have forever.  Innovation comes out of necessity and almost always people rise to the challenge when they have a fixed time limit to get something done.
6.  STAY away from religious discussions. Separation of church and state. Remember it. Value it. Respect it.  Do not hold public hearings or discussions about abortion, creationism or any other specific to one religion view.  These do not belong in the public sphere, except in extenuating circumstances in which facts take precedent over beliefs. i.e. in a rape trial, or a medical discussion. All religions have different perspectives.  Respect that. Encourage the courts to respect that. Allow people to say whatever they want to their fellow citizen so long as they aren't inciting violence, attempting to overthrow the government en masse (when it's not actually warranted) or being extraordinarily discriminatory on public property.
7. PROTECT AND RESPECT YOUR ENVIRONMENT. we only get one. Really, we only get one.
8. Never tell people that business and the environment can't both win. They can. and usually the best companies are the ones who do. Look at Unilever, Patagonia, Xerox, Interface, and more...
9. People are who we hurt when we don't consider social issues.
10. Resources are what we waste when we don't act like human beings to one another. i.e. those idiots calling the cops as pranks. That's money. Wasted.
11. Civility and pride in ones community are necessary for thriving neighborhoods.  Allow it to grow and flourish.  Be proud of where you came from.  Help people invest.
12. Someone has to pay for it, but there are several people with big pockets, and if a company doesn't want to cover it, guess what.... You're paying for it, this means healthcare, the environment, homelessness, etc... SO be financially responsible with your pork requests, and tax break modifications etc... it's all connected somehow, so when one person decides not to pay for something, SOMEONE ELSE, usually a poorer someone else, may be impacted worse.  Just think about that. Really think about it before you make your decisions.

This all goes to say that if a candidate can demonstrate to me that they genuinely care about their community, act in a way that's consistent with their words, they will earn my respect and my support, regardless of party.  Also, our community is global and local.  Don't limit yourself to what can and should be done.  What's right is right, even if it benefits someone elses' community.  because it all come back full circle.

SO guess what Congress, and the UN, this means you!  Shape up. Fighting and refusing to negotiate is not a strategy. It's pathetic and maddening.  Reach compromise.  Stop demonizing.  We have a planet and an economy and our basic sense of citizenship to save.