EDITORIAL

Presidential and Congressional elections are full of promises from both the incumbents and the potential candidates, and 2012 is no exception.

Members of Congress have talked about “reigniting the economy,” as the recovery from the economic meltdown of 2008 continues moving at a snail’s pace. In response, the president touts some signs of progress while also making it known that more must be done to bring manufacturing back to the U.S.

Where have we heard this before? Just rewind the tape a few years and you’ll find that many candidates for public office have said the exact same things.

Over the last couple of decades, electoral campaigns have evolved into advertising pitches where candidates offer catch phrases and buzzwords to get elected, but offer little of substance upon taking office.

All one needs to do is turn on C-SPAN during a session of the House and Senate. One after another, legislators take the podium armed with charts, graphs and plenty of rhetoric. They have plenty to say about what’s wrong with this country, but more often than not, they don’t offer many solutions to the country’s ills.

If only our elected officials in Washington were as skilled in governing as they are in politicking, the nation might have today a booming economy, powered by the same manufacturing engine fueled by middle-class America which kept this country moving generations before.

Let’s say that the politicians are serious this time about “reigniting the economy” and “bringing jobs back” to America. What would they need to do to prove that they’re serious about these goals?

Admittedly, it’s going to be tough bringing back all of those industrial and manufacturing jobs that have been shipped away from our shores to China and other far-away lands. Higher tariffs on imported goods might be something to consider, but when the idea came up in the past, many elected officials cried foul out of fear of a potential trade war that will deflate the economy.

Making credit easier for small businesses to attain from private banks and providing financial tax credits and breaks to convince companies to open more plants and hire more workers here in the U.S., is a good start.

Then there’s the price of petroleum, which continues to remain sky high. Fuel costs for shipping companies have been passed down to the consumers, raising the prices on almost every item, including staples such as bread and milk.

Most of our oil is imported not from the Middle East, which is common public perception, but from Canada. Improved technology has also led to the discovery of additional, untapped oil deposits within the U.S. and off our shores. Perhaps it’s time to consider expanding drilling and refining operations in the U.S. (with appropriate environmental safeguards, of course) while also supporting the development of clean energy sources.

We challenge those elected in the November election to live up to the hype and back up their promises with action. If they’re serious about “reigniting the economy” and “bringing jobs back,” then when the time comes, they should to put away the clichés and get down to business.