The Presidential election is now history.

The system shows it still works. A new administration will now take charge of the Executive Branch. The transition will be accomplished peacefully and is already underway. Come Inauguration Day new bodies will be occupying key seats within our government, without rioting or civil disorder. The system shows it still works.

Yet, in many ways there has been no change, nor will there be.

Within the Congress – the most important branch of the three – there has been little change at all. Most of the incumbents were re-elected, to include almost all of those with over 20 years already in office. These are the same folk whose job is to provide key oversight over the Executive Branch, as well as approve tax rates, budgets and expenditures. They as a group have done a lousy job so far (approx. 10% approval rating) or we wouldn't be in the mess everyone says exists, yet there was a 90% re-election rate for Congressional incumbents.

Our prayers are that the President-Elect and his appointees perform their jobs with logic, common sense, concern for the populace and humility. If that happens, the nation will continue in this “noble experiment” that the rest of the world watches with awe.

I wish the President-Elect well in his mission of “change.” I hope all Americans give this administration the opportunity to succeed, as it deserves that chance. It is important to remember the President is not a 4-year king, and should not be held to that standard or expectation. The Executive Branch is only as good as the sitting Congress which controls the purse-strings and provides oversight for the electorate.

However, we still need to be vigilant, especially when it comes to Congress. In two short years, all those 435 within the House and 33 (of the 100) within the Senate are on the ballot again. Let’s hope that these 468 elected officials don’t get another free pass for crummy work.