Experience money can't buy

Have you seen these big Bernie Sanders banners? The big red ones that say “Bernie for US Senate” and “Experience money can’t buy”?

I don’t get that whole tactic of “don’t vote for Tarrant because he has no experience.” There are like a half dozen letters to the editor daily with that line. Since when do we have a professional congress? What’s next, a requirement that candidates attend a special “politician training school”?

Maybe that should be a college major, including such classes as Fundraising 101, Appropriations Bills: How to hide the pork, and Political Speech: How to sound profound without really saying anything.

Look, I am not Tarrant’s number one cheerleader, but this tactic is as lame as Bernie Sanders is communist. There are a plethora of legitimate reasons to criticize Tarrant on his ideas. They do not include: how long he has been in office, how much money he makes, how many homes he has, or what kind of car he drives.

When we set the standard that only experienced legislators can hold office, we toll the death knell for our democracy.

If you ask me, I think being in office for 16 years is a drawback, not an asset. Bernie has gotten into bed with the very same type of people he originally railed against. He is quickly becoming part of the establishment he so vehemently opposed as the center of his campaign that got him into power in the first place. It's like there is something in the water in Washington that causes people to compromise their principles. But, I digress. That is a topic for a whole other post.

My point here is that one does not need “experience” to be in the Senate. Rich Tarrant has demonstrated that he has character and competence. He is a reputable businessman who has created jobs and given back to his community in other ways as well. That more than qualifies him.

For once I would like to see the Sanders groupies come up with an actual policy or position critique and rise above these petty personal attacks.