Morons in Congress

The system is broken.  By the system, I mean the US Congress and the overwhelming lack of cooperation between the two parties.  Instead of working to solve funding issues house Democrats and Republicans seem much more interested in advancing their careers and agendas than representing the people who elected them.

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.

Happy New Year - 2022

 

I said it at the start of last year and I am going to say it again; may 2022 be a far site better than 2021.

The United States changed administrations in '21 but the country still struggled to get anything accomplished as there was very little change in cooperation between the parties.

The solution to this is term limits along with serious campaign finance reform.  I will write more on these topics when I have time.

Personally, it was a good year.  I was able to have a surgery that changed the way I see the world and I was able to vacation in the southeast United States.

Here's hoping you and yours have a verry blessed, healthy and prosperous 2022!

More Thoughts on the Attack on the Capitol Building

 

As I write, it's two days until the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the next President and Vice President of the United States.  Since my post of 12 days ago, the FBI has fanned out over the United States and arrested hundreds who attacked the capitol building on January 6th.

I've changed my mind about who these attackers are.  Initially, I wrote it was individuals who had gotten caught up in protesting what they perceived as a feckless government.  But, after doing a lot of reading, I realize I was wrong.  Many of those who attacked the cradle of our nation's democracy were driven by the rhetoric of extreme right wing radicals who wanted to strike the first blow to overthrow the US government.  But, why is there such hatred?

A lot of it comes from the public's perception that our federal government is more concerned about themselves and their party than those who are paying taxes. I certainly haven't heard anyone say "these congressmen and women are doing a great job.  Let's give them all a pat on the back and send them back to D.C."  No, if anything, the sentiment is the inverse. There is so much partisanship on both sides of the aisle that Americans are sick of it.  Unfortunately, most of our congress persons and senators are clueless as to what people are worried about outside of the beltway. My perception is they don't get home enough or believe what is being told to them when they do go home to their districts and states.  This has to change.

The actions taken by the rioters can never be justified and those who broke the law on January 6th must be held responsible for their actions.  But, the bottom line is, perhaps if congress would start working together and listening to their constituents, the citizens of this country would be better served than they are now.  Term limits and real, strict campaign financing laws must also be enacted before things will change and the American public feels it is being served by its senators and representatives as they should be served.

Very Sad to See

While watching one of the big three network nightly news broadcasts this evening I saw something that I really don't like.  I observed the Speaker of the US House of Representatives behave like a two year old.  Nancy Pelosi took what I am told was an advance copy of President Donald Trump's State of the Union speech and tore it in half.

Have the so called "leaders" of this country really sunk to this level that they blatantly act like children?  I see the name calling and imaturity more and more frequently from both sides of the aisle.  And I don't like it one little bit.  The lack of respect for members of the other party and lack of cooperation is no longer acceptable to what I really believe is most Americans.

We have two three year old children in our family and if either one of them tore up papers or deliberately destroyed something, they would be in trouble and probably get a time out if not a good spanking.

It's time for members of Congress to start acting with respect for each other.  Most aren't near to being the leaders they profess.  And many aren't representing our interests on the federal level.  If you had employees like these they wouldn't last in their jobs very long.  So, here it is; this is a call from an old guy in the middle of the US, who doesn't care two bits about the politics inside the Beltway and could care less about what most of these wannabes think of each other.  Start acting like adults, start playing nice with each other and start representing us instead of your party and its big buck donors and lobbyists.  It's time for term limits and to get rid of those who for some reason think longevity equates to infallibility on Capitol Hill.

Someone in DC needs to inform Mrs.Pelosi she can no longer act like a spoiled Kindergartner.  Just like our three year olds she needs to be taken to the woodshed and taught a lesson.