I think we have gotten about the most we can expect from politicians as a COLLECTIVE.
That being said, and giving credit where credit is due, it took politicians to give us the rights that we now take for granted, that were previously..historically withheld from us, and that we could not have gained without some politicians being on our side....(at least insomuch as our civil rights go)
LBJ Speech....
In our time change has come to this Nation, too. The American Negro, acting with impressive restraint, has peacefully protested and marched, entered the courtrooms and the seats of government, demanding a justice that has long been denied. The voice of the Negro was the call to action. But it is a tribute to America that, once aroused, the courts and the Congress, the President and most of the people, have been the allies of progress.
Thus we have seen the high court of the country declare that discrimination based on race was repugnant to the Constitution, and therefore void. We have seen in 1957, and 1960, and again in 1964, the first civil rights legislation in this Nation in almost an entire century.
Sure, they were just giving us what was long overdue, but I personally don't think it could have been accomplished without a cooperative effort on the part of politicians. I think the reality is that all of the "By any means necessary" in world would not have achieved the rights and protections we now take for granted, had not "THE COURTS AND THE CONGRESS, THE PRESIDENT AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE" not been supportive of these rights. We only represent 13% (12.8% to be exact) of the people so it is unlikely that we could have accomplished as much as we have without a political solution.
That being said, I am not in favor of waiting for or being dependent upon the Government for nothing other than to protect my civil and equal rights, and basic governmental responsibilities such as law enforcement, and infrastucture such as highways and fire protection.
So what have politicians done for us, lately? NOTHING.......
Well, I take that back.....Once again, I have to give credit where credit is due...Bush enacted the child tax credit....since that time, I have never had to pay the Alternate Minimum Tax and instead have gotten a rather substantial refund.....Of course this doesn't help the "collective"...but it sure makes me happy.