What will be important and unavoidable for most Washington hopefuls will be the record of what was accomplished over the roughly last two years. Voters will take a hard look at what people actually did on Capitol Hill vs. who talked. We will see who took our tax dollars and actually got on with the job of lawmaking and who took our money and failed to do anything. We definitely don’t want any more of that.

The process of looking over the lists of who put in a modicum of effort to get on with lawmaking comes with good reason. There was a lot about these past two years that will make this coming campaign season unique. We spent the time trying to tough it through the worst economic blizzard since the 1930’s. We were embroiled in two wars, one of which we should never have been in.

So while Americans were losing jobs, homes, sons and daughters and our overall sense of well being what exactly was happening in the halls of Congress? What were the numerous things our elected officials were working hard on? The country wanted multiple efforts launched to deal with the many problems we were facing. As a nation of increasingly Independent voters, we hoped for this from all sides.

In desperate times we expected our elected leaders to get together and put in an effort worthy of the history books. We wanted to see blood and sweat from legislators laboriously turning things around. We didn’t want to see single issues tie up the nation we wanted output on a multitude of concerns. We didn’t want one sided points of departure we expected all parties introducing various targeted bills aimed at helping us out of our current predicament. If there was ever a moment to step up to the plate this was it.

We didn’t need nor want angry long invective lasting months. In times when so many are struggling that just isn’t being focused on the repair of a nation. We didn’t ask for people interested in getting the best out of doing nothing. That doesn’t help any of us make it through the great recession.

We didn’t want people exploiting anger and fear to avoid working towards actual goals in the midst of dire circumstances. Sure we expect the trappings of the political process, but at some point the theater gets set aside in favor of job fulfillment. At some point the pettiness of scoring political cheap shots should naturally be superseded by the deep heart felt care for ordinary Americans… right?

From January 2009 to the same time 2010 how many bills were introduced and by whom? How much legislation did all parties at least attempt to come together on aimed at helping us? How much did they try? We will no doubt begin the process of tallying things up and grading. The job of introducing bills in Congress is neither up to the president, nor any one party in a democracy alone. All need to work as we are allies especially in time of need.

Some good things came out of legislation from that time. Despite what most of us feel given the unemployment rate, the recession stabilized thanks to legislative efforts. We’re a long way from back to the way things were but at least we’re heading uphill again. Other implementations have also found traction.

But, what will stick out most are the possibilities passed up on for an entire year in favor of sound and fury. We witnessed people dragging down the nation on single issues instead of attacking our many problems by bringing together many perspectives. When Americans were suffering through the same problems at the same time Congress could not have been farther apart. Some tried and should be given their due for the labor. But those who frittered a year away not doing anything deserving a decent score are as yet undeserving of our votes.

There is no better mark of a true public servant than those who shine brightest when a nation needs them most. Those who have not held up their end of the bargain but expect to have contracts renewed are essentially giggling behind the backs of an entire nation. Hopefully in the little time left leading up to the next election we will see more cooperation, more results and much less empty talk.

To read about my inspiration for this article go to www.lawsuitagainstuconn.com.