The politicians and candidates running for president of the United States are running not to serve the American public, but to dictate to American citizens what they will do, what the country must do as a whole. Be they Democrats or Republicans, their attitude is, "We know what's best for you."

This would explain Hillary Clinton's insatiable drive to push mandatory National Healthcare. Add to the mix Barack Obama's sneak legislation (Global Poverty Act) without much of the public knowing.

Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama would introduce legislation that would cause more government intrusion into the lives of Americans. Both of them are wrong. Haven't we had enough government expansion through the Bush presidency?  So in a sense, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama cannot go after President Bush for his out of control government spending and his expansion of big government when they also plan to expand government's role.  Just not in the same aspect as President Bush.

Do we want big government to step in and tell us how we should take care of our bodies/health? Again, there is the mentality …"We know what's best for you." It's narcissistic at best to think that the powerful should have the responsibility to take care of the powerless. In our government, there are checks and balances. The American people give only so much power to the governing legislature and when it becomes too massive, cuts should be made.  Otherwise, individuals with power tend to develop an Emperor complex. 

With Hillary's comment, communistic in its approach… "We're going to take things from you on behalf of the common good" and Barack Obama's Messiah complex, the future of the United States doesn't look so good. John McCain isn't a much better choice. His arrogance and frequent bouts of anger doesn't bode well for a person who is looking to lead the nation during tough times.

Approaching ANYTHING in life requires a certain level of humility. Arrogance tends to lead a person to think he/she can seize more and more control, and they will do anything to get it.   

In today's political climate, a candidate does not necessarily have to stand on his/her convictions or be consistent in their stand on the issues. They need only to say the right words to suck in a voter.  What a sad state of affairs we've allowed our political process to become.

Candidates running for office are not rock stars. If elected, the American people expect them to be competent, stable, and humble enough to execute the hardest job in the land. The American presidency is not reserved for individuals with an arrogant nature.  

I don't know how voters may feel about a presidential candidate looking down upon the "little people" and insisting they know better than us and that they will tell us what we need.  Americans come from a long line of men and women who balked at absolute oppressive authority figures who told them how it was going to be. Hence, our Forefathers made their way "across the pond" to start a new life. Why should our current situation be any different?

The candidates running for president (or any other office) do not deserve overwhelming adoration and praise.  The American public needs to demand respect for the political process…we need to be mad. Our political process has become a joke.  And it's only because the American public has let it become that way. 

Conservatives are left disillusioned…thinking their only choice (until John McCain won the Republican nomination) was to sigh, and vote the impending leader John McCain, or stay home.  I chose to write-in my preferred candidate.  My preferred candidate happened to not share the spotlight with the treasured "top-tier" candidates.

There were highly qualified and legitimate people who filed to run for president in enough time to participate in the debates who were not represented fully by the Republican party; (same happened on the Democrat side) they were left out. The media and the political parties gave the spotlight to whoever they wanted to grab the nomination and who they wanted to remain among the top choices for president. That is not a fair representation of the people.

What are you going to do about it America? Are you fed up yet? What must occur for you to get angry enough? The media, the elite, the celebrities, the political candidates/politicians…they are all saying to you, "We know what's best for you."  Are you going to take that lying down?

I call lying politicians pirates…they do nothing but raid what goodness America has left and then, turn around and tell you that, "We know what's best for you." They sell empty promises and leave the American people suffering.

A sad shape we are in right now. It will be our own fault if we don't see the forest for the trees.

*Felicia Benamon is a conservative columnist who writes from a political perspective, but occasionally deviates to write about other concerns facing her country.  A patriotic American, Felicia hopes to motivate others to be more conscious of the current state of affairs in America, and to hold true to the wonderful traditions that make America great.Felicia comes from a military background and is proud to support the men and women who put their lives on the line daily to protect American citizens and who reach out to help those in need across the globe.

Write to Felicia at: FeliciasDesk@aol.com