Change Congress?

June 23, 2008 at 5:05 am · Filed under Uncategorized

Recently I read an editorial by Fareed Zakaria in June 16, 2008 Newsweek. In my opinion, Fareed is one of the better commentators today. Try to read this column.He explained how our economy is in trouble and why it is unlikely to improve very soon. The basic problem appears to be a reluctance to be bipartisan. Party loyalty is viewed as vital on most issues. If a candidate or congressman strays they are viewed as mavericks, traitors, or worse. I have been thinking, with such low bipartisan activity, very little will ever get done. The only sure things could be the famous “earmarks” – that violate the process with mostly “pork”.

The upshot of all this is that very little progress is made on the most important issues of our time…while local areas get their boondoggle projects like the bridge in Alaska that had little purpose for anything but a multi million dollar decoration.

Bottom line is that we have a congress populated by many people whose primary interest is in getting elected and staying popular. Very few really work with enthusiasm. Zakaria seems to have it right.

Somehow, I thought that members of congress “worked” for the people of their district or state. They use earmarks to appear to be focused upon local needs. Unfortunately most earmarks do little for this nation, and usually (eventually) increase either our taxes or our debt. Most people in Congress actually work for special interest groups. This is to be expected since those groups support them with campaign cash and many benefits.

Do we need to turn out most of congress? Do we need fresh new faces who will pledge to work for the people and deny “special interests” that are not directly working activities that are benefitting their constituents? I will be very pleased if that could ever happen. How about you?

 

 

 

 

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