There is no solution in sight. Instead of coming up with a permanent fix, congress continues to kick the can down the road when it comes to government funding. And many don't seem to care what their actions do to this nation as long as they remain blindly loyal to their party's leadership.
The woman who represents my family and me in Congress is indicative of the blind loyalty of congressional members. Ann Wagner, who has been elected to represent her Missouri district six times, has done very little in 12 years. She has authored insignificant legislation in the house and added her name to more significant bills when it benefits the Republican party.
Wagner's' claim to fame was to co-chair the Missouri Republican party and serve as Ambassador to Luxembourg after being appointed by former President George Bush. It was the Republican party's way of thanking her for helping it win gains in the early 2000's.
There are too many congress people just like Wagner who are feckless. It's a wonder Congress gets anything accomplished. And the Republicans aren't alone. There are a number of clueless Democrats as well.
What is the solution to this malaise in Congress? Term limits. Apparently the American public thinks congress is ineffectual, but doesn't want to throw out its representatives in the House and Senate. If a constituional ammendment were enacted to limit house members to six two year terms and Senate members to two six year terms, it might help solve the problem. It would also get rid of some of the fossils in both chambers who have been sucking the tit of the public treasury for far too long.
Term limits would get rid of those who have become entrenched in power. As an example Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer from New York would be forced to go home and so would Republican Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. McConnell is 81 years old and the people of Kentucky have sent him back to Washington D.C. through at least 2026. As a reference, McConnell was first elected to the US Senate in 1984. That was the same year Americans elected Ronald Reagan to a second term. McConnell is showing his age of 81 and on at least two recent occasions has seemed to be disoriented while speaking in public.
It's time for these individuals to let someone else have a chance. Maybe there are statesmen in this nation who are actually concerned about the future of the United States and would act to work with their colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
