'Be careful what you wish for' opines the Herald Times Reporter Editorial Board

Link to editorial in the October 28 (Manitowoc) Herald Times Reporter.

Excerpt: A new poll suggests that nearly half of American voters would rather be represented in Congress by someone with absolutely no political experience than by someone who's been in office for more than 10 years.

This finding from a survey of 1,000 registered voters by NBC News and The Wall Street Journal shows how far the "throw the bums out" spirit of the "tea party" movement has rippled through the electorate. It's an understandable sentiment, given how little progress Washington has made in lowering unemployment or spurring economic growth.

But what's happened in California over the past decade* should serve as a cautionary tale to voters who consider inexperience a prerequisite for the difficult tasks facing lawmakers. It turns out that amateurs can be at least as inept at fixing structural failures in government as the veterans they replaced.

That doesn't mean we should reflexively vote for incumbents; instead, it's a reason to question whether incumbency is the real problem.

*Political amateur hour in California:  Imagine: At a time when California is lurching from crisis to crisis, a legislator has an idea to make life better. He puts together a bill, gathers support and shepherds it into law.

If only Sacramento worked like that. Instead, it often works like this:

A lobbyist has an idea to make life better — but only for his client. The lobbyist writes the bill, shops for a willing lawmaker to introduce it and lines up the support. The legislator? He has to do little more than show up and vote.

Other polls to ponder.
Growing Number of Americans Say Obama is a Muslim.  (24%; Pew Research)
Scientific consensus on evolution not shared by public.  (Pew Research)