A pox on both their houses
“Dereliction of duty” and “a pox on both their houses” are the phrases that come to mind in reviewing the most recent actions of Congress.
Once again, our “leaders” brought us to the brink of a government shutdown as another short-term spending plan was about to expire, the members scrambling to put into place another 11th-hour agreement so that they can begin their lengthy holiday recess.
There was no possibility that a clean spending blueprint would be proposed. Rather, we found shenanigans, an unwillingness to fund the Department of Homeland Security for more than a few months, and special interest poison pills inserted into the legislation that are unrelated to the matter at hand, but provisions which a sufficient number of Democrats were willing to accept.
This latest caper ensures that there is no hope for the House and Senate to emerge from their widespread unpopularity with the American people anytime soon, but why should they care? We re-elect them, and, for the most part, we have the bizarre notion that our own representative and senators are jolly good fellows, that it is the other guy (and gal), those who represent different districts and states, who are the “bums.”
The Founding Fathers would surely weep if they were able to witness what has happened to their once-great country, for which, in their era, there was so much promise.
Oren M. Spiegler
Upper Saint Clair