To politicians and regulators looking for loyalty, "It ain't me, Babe"

Don’t confuse your vote with your loyalty.

Unless they’re actually your friends, politicians and regulators are not your friends. And that’s fine as long as you know your boundaries and your values.

I love this song, but I’ve never been inclined to dedicate it to anyone. Until now.

Dear Politicians…

You say you're lookin' for someone

Never weak but always strong

To protect you an' defend you

Whether you are right or wrong

Someone to open each and every door

But it ain't me, babe

No, no, no, it ain't me, babe

…You say you're lookin' for someone

Who will promise never to part

Someone to close his eyes for you

Someone to close his heart

Someone who will die for you an' more

But it ain't me, babe

No, no, no, it ain't me, babe

It ain't me you're lookin' for, babe …

And no, I’m not referring to anyone in particular. I just think there’s been a role reversal and I don’t like it.

I give myself permission to love the people I love unconditionally and sometimes irrationally, but I also choose those people carefully.

There’s a reason candidates are always more accessible than legislators. It’s because, during election season, we all remember that they rely on us to maintain their power.

But what about after? (And what about before?)

Somehow we all get caught up in supporting leaders who are prone to making promises that they don’t give much thought to keeping once they’re in office. And new promises lull us into forgetting the broken ones that came before. I’m not suggesting that everyone is always lying (though some are) or that some might genuinely seek to make the changes they promise to make. I’m just saying politicians aren’t going to save us. Let’s not get complacent or overzealous about any of them.

Hope is valuable. Forgiveness, too. And we can do both while holding people accountable, reminding them of their promises and keeping the conversation going AFTER elections and appointments.

We can be grateful for the progress and accomplishments of people in leadership positions, but we don’t owe them our loyalty. And certainly not our silence when they do things we don’t like. They work for us.

Perhaps the best thing we can do is set clear boundaries for what we expect in the workplace and reassert them as needed. Just a thought.

Ok, now just enjoy the song. It’s Friday after all.

I have to admit, I really like this version, too.