In the wake of the most recent failure of the General Assembly - on property taxes - Pennsylvanians are left scratching their heads regarding the usefulness of the oldest legislative body in the nation.

Is this group really so pathetic that they cannot even accomplish the one thing they're actually well-practiced at - creating transparent giveaways for likely voters, conveniently timed to coincide with an election?

Apparently so.

What's a Commonwealth to do?

The old maxim "abandon all hope" immediately comes to mind, but while there may be no hope whatsoever for the current legislative unit, there is hope for the citizenry as a whole.

On May 16, Pennsylvanians have an historic opportunity to change directions and improve their lot. What began with a few scattered activists has transformed into the last vestige of hope for the future.

But the activists have done about as much as they can do. They've set the table. They've unveiled the entrée. The rest is up to the voters - only they can partake of this meal, or not.

If they do - by turning out a significant number of sitting legislators - the race for reform is on. If they don't, it will be an omen of impending doom. If you think legislators are arrogant and out of touch now, imagine what it will be like if they're overwhelmingly retained.

Abandon all hope indeed.

Every voter in the Commonwealth must make a personal choice: do we continue down the road to nowhere, or do we switch gears and try something different?

While a majority of Pennsylvanians are unhappy with the legislature, half are still supportive of their own particular legislator. This defies logic, as each of them has failed to bring about a cure for a non-functioning body. Therefore, they must be part of the problem. Your particular legislator is culpable.

If you're not registered to vote, shame on you. No complaining allowed.

If you're registered and eligible, but fail to show up and vote, shame on you, too. You trample the legacy of those who've fought for the freedom to choose our own government.

If you do vote, but fail to educate yourself first or vote in any particular manner out of habit - you're worse than the first two groups. You're the true sheep, blindly filing into the slaughterhouse.

If you vote with a possible piece of the public treasury as your priority, you're jumping on the train which destroys free societies.

If, however, you vote with an eye on what's best for the Commonwealth overall and make your choices based on informed opinion and judgment, you're on the right track.

Fighting for the common good isn't just for legislative bodies. In Pennsylvania, it seems to have disappeared from the official Lawmaker Job Description - in favor of self service and a lifetime of comfort and security at the expense of taxpayers.

In the end, we'll always get exactly the government we deserve. Educate yourself and go out and vote your conscience - and urge ten others to do the same. Before you do, however, there’s one other item of great importance to consider:we are being watched. Not just by the media, but by the entire nation.

Disapproval of the federal government is not insignificant and Pennsylvania's primary election could become a "teachable moment" for the rest of America. Activists elsewhere are considering taking back government in their own states, but some are considering a national effort.

They're waiting to see what Pennsylvanians do on May 16 first. They want us to lead the way - which is only natural. Our Commonwealth was instrumental in the first American Revolution. Why shouldn't we likewise be the 'tip of the spear' for the second, more peaceful installment?

Abandon all hope?

Not quite yet, but we are at a point of no return. For all intents and purposes, it’s now or never. If Pennsylvanians don't get the job done this year, there will likely not be a similar opportunity in the foreseeable future.

Even sadder is that our fair Commonwealth would become an empty husk, bled completely dry by the greed, arrogance and hubris of elected officials who care more about their own self interest than the greater good.

There is hope – for a new Pennsylvania.

And it all starts with you.

PACleanSweep is a non-partisan effort dedicated to defeating incumbent elected officials in Pennsylvania and replacing them with true public servants. For more information, please visit www.PACleanSweep.com.