In American politics today, our collective energy is being drained at an alarming rate. The culprits? The vampires. Not the tasty ones like Count Chocula; rather, the blood sucking ones, like way too many members of our current Congress.

A vampire, by my definition, is someone who takes more energy than he gives. In the workplace, where they’re also a problem, I’ve learned to spot vampires quickly and remove them. In politics, they’re just as easy to identify but far harder to root out, and their damage is far greater.

Vampires in government come in various forms. Many are not believers in the vision of a better country; they’re content to tinker at the edges and do whatever they must to keep their jobs. They will go whichever way the wind blows, as long as it carries them to another term in office. Others excel at shooting down big plans and bold ideas, telling us why things can’t or shouldn’t be done without offering meaningful solutions of their own.

Some are slow-moving and low on energy and creativity. Others have boundless energy but spend it on distractions like launching and defending investigations, fighting over wedge........

© The Hill