Confidence Wanes

Governor David Paterson announced that he's not seeking re-election this year after a hubub involving one of his aides. Charlie Rangel's in hot water about a trip to the Caribbean. Frozen cash in a freezer belonging to a congressman from Louisiana. War hero Duke Cunningham was on the take - like his recently deceased colleague, John Murtha. A love child here, a blue stained dress there, on and on it goes.

Don't get me wrong, all of our elected officials aren't like these schmucks. There are some good folks in office. But it seems like their numbers are shrinking.

Election to office - public service - is an honor. A sacred trust. When that trust is broken, its very hard to earn back. And if you pay attention to current events, it is very difficult not to become cynical. After all, you can only kick a dog so many times before it just doesn't come back to you.

I think that's where many Americans are at right now. We've lost confidence in our leaders and our system because we've been kicked so many times that we're just tired of it all. The people of New York deserve better. So do folks in Louisiana, California, and Pennsylvania.

We all do.