One of the truly great TV personalities, known for his sales ability, Arthur Godfrey, insisted on using the products he sold.  He had to use them and believe in them to sell them.  Shouldn’t our legislative leaders be required to do the same?  Let’s take a look at their transportation first.  

Now I know that this would make you think of cars, and limos, but I was thinking more in the line of buses, trains, and planes.  No more private jets, no first class on the plane and no walking around the security check.  Now I don’t want the folks traveling on my dime to get to work.  No reimbursement for local transportation!   

That was just a warm up, they need to be required to purchase their autos from the companies the government controls.  No Lexus, BMW, or Mercedes for our countries board of directors.  They should drive cars manufactured by General Motors and Chrysler.  While I am thinking about it, they should be required to replace the mechanical equipment in their homes with the products they mandate for the general public.  These all knowing politicians should be required to buy with their own cash, the same energy star appliances, heating systems, lightbulbs, windows, water heaters, shower heads and toilets that they mandate for the general public.

It would make us a better country if our legislators were required to purchase and use the same products in their own homes before mandating those products for use by the general public.  I believe the same strategy would improve our public school system.  Our legislators would not be allowed to vote on school rules, regulations, curriculums or budgets unless their children or grandchildren attended public, government controlled schools.   The skin in this game should have a genetic connection.

What I am looking for is a simple way to educate our government leaders on life in the United States.  Our leaders should not be allowed to exempt themselves from a true understanding of life in these United States.  No private pensions and health care.  Our legislators and planners should be required to use the same services under the same conditions as the general public.  That would include the requirement that all appointments for healthcare would require these leaders to waste just as much time waiting to get an appointment and sitting in the same chairs, the same waiting rooms.  

If our leaders were willing to mingle with and act like average Americans they would find themselves welcomed and respected rather than held in contempt.  No body guards would be needed, just comfortable shoes for the long walk from the parking lot.  You can’t lead if your aren’t willing to participate.  Currently we do not elect leaders, we are electing central planners that insist on forcing us to live a life they are not willing to live.  I can hear the moans from back of the room, “You want to rob our leaders of all their freedoms!”  That is not goal at all.  I want our leaders to share what remains of our freedoms!

Ed Tyler lives in Pell City. He may be reached at ed@edtylerinc.com

One of the truly great TV personalities, known for his sales ability, Arthur Godfrey, insisted on using the products he sold.  He had to use them and believe in them to sell them.  Shouldn’t our legislative leaders be required to do the same?  Let’s take a look at their transportation first. 

Now I know that this would make you think of cars, and limos, but I was thinking more in the line of buses, trains, and planes.  No more private jets, no first class on the plane and no walking around the security check.  Now I don’t want the folks traveling on my dime to get to work.  No reimbursement for local transportation!  

That was just a warm up, they need to be required to purchase their autos from the companies the government controls.  No Lexus, BMW, or Mercedes for our countries board of directors.  They should drive cars manufactured by General Motors and Chrysler.  While I am thinking about it, they should be required to replace the mechanical equipment in their homes with the products they mandate for the general public.  These all knowing politicians should be required to buy with their own cash, the same energy star appliances, heating systems, lightbulbs, windows, water heaters, shower heads and toilets that they mandate for the general public.

It would make us a better country if our legislators were required to purchase and use the same products in their own homes before mandating those products for use by the general public.  I believe the same strategy would improve our public school system.  Our legislators would not be allowed to vote on school rules, regulations, curriculums or budgets unless their children or grandchildren attended public, government controlled schools.   The skin in this game should have a genetic connection.

What I am looking for is a simple way to educate our government leaders on life in the United States.  Our leaders should not be allowed to exempt themselves from a true understanding of life in these United States.  No private pensions and health care.  Our legislators and planners should be required to use the same services under the same conditions as the general public.  That would include the requirement that all appointments for healthcare would require these leaders to waste just as much time waiting to get an appointment and sitting in the same chairs, the same waiting rooms. 

If our leaders were willing to mingle with and act like average Americans they would find themselves welcomed and respected rather than held in contempt.  No body guards would be needed, just comfortable shoes for the long walk from the parking lot.  You can’t lead if your aren’t willing to participate.  Currently we do not elect leaders, we are electing central planners that insist on forcing us to live a life they are not willing to live.  I can hear the moans from back of the room, “You want to rob our leaders of all their freedoms!”  That is not goal at all.  I want our leaders to share what remains of our freedoms!

Ed Tyler lives in Pell City. He may be reached at ed@edtylerinc.com