Th’ six week summer recess for Congress is almost over…th’ two ring Congressional circus will return! Senators and Representatives…….yep, th’ clowns will return in political lockstep! DAMMIT! Most members of Congress seem relieved to escape the folks back home…..back to Washington, with TV appearances and interviews by so-called journalists. Ahhhh, back to DC, Home Sweet Home! As my friend Ruby would say, “Bless their little hearts!”
Think about this. To get elected, Senators and Representatives (Democrats and Republicans and Independents) tell voters what they think voters want to hear, that they will legislate following the views and dictates of those voters. All’s well so far. Off they go to DC to represent folks back home…..some first timers, others with a long career at the public trough. Being a celebrity and qualifying for an enviable pension and other benefits is quite an incentive, even though accomplishments of many will be or have been seriously unremarkable. Hmmmmm……
Once in DC they are immediately corralled into two groups, Democrats and Republicans, each dedicated to legislate “their way” for the country……..forget about what the folks back home want the “elected” to do. The two groups each elect a leader and other Party functionaries and the “gotcha” gridlock begins! After all, the Party objective is to prevent the opposition Party from achieving anything which might be viewed as a success. Funny that you can be so “positive” about being so “negative”!
The leader secures members allegiance to vote as a block by making assignments to choice committees, providing patronage and much sought after reelection funds. Once the leader knows what the “elected” wants, the leader has “gotta ‘em”. At this point, “th’ wants” of the folks back home have become, at best, secondary to “th’ wants” of the Party. The voters want representation, the Party wants power! Onward!
In another blog, I’ll outline how to fix Congress! Stay tuned!