4 Score and 7 Yards to Go

We’ve all heard the stories on TV; the Cinderella story, the dark horse, the up-and-comer who defied all odds with perseverance and preparation. These bright-eyed change makers go up against the hardened veterans with a professional pedigrees and a fabled family history in the business. But unfortunately I am not talking about the old pastime of football. I am talking about the most costly and influential of American sports…And it’s not soccer. And we’re not watching on ESPN, the new arenas are exhibited on CNN, NBC, FOX and countless others. The phrases that were once exclusively used within the sports realm are now synonymously thrown around in politics. Politics have turned into another spectator sport. Millions of man-hours and billions of dollars are spent debating the point spread, statistics, and team strategies to take each other down. Rather than spending that time and money to directly mend our ailing country. Young, new legislators are scouted like Heisman hopefuls. PR specialists evade truth like tacklers. Republicans rely on home field advantage in the south while Democrats dominate the coasts. Each looking to “steal a win” on the others home turf. Tough talkin’ Texans tout passed bills like touchdown passes. Squaring off against dogged Democrats who promise hope and change like championship rings to a new team. Why are differing parties considered opponents when they should all be working towards the same goal, a safe and prosperous nation? A major difference between pigskin in politics is that politics plays for more than rings and bragging rights. They are playing for control of the country’s fate. Both teams are so busy beating each other down that the whole audience loses. It does not take an MVP quarterback’s vision to see that something is astray. Unlike the Superbowl, this game should have no passive bystanders. The winners stretch further than one home city. This monotonous Democratic-dichotomy is dragging this once-great nation down. But until the day we as citizens transition from being those passive fans to players in our own game, we will have our plays called for us. It may be a long shot, but the ball is in our court, are you ready to play?