The Circus is Now in Session
Members of Congress
Despite my best intentions not to talk politics any more, once again I feel compelled to make a comment. I promise that this is the last time.
Maybe it's my age or 60's frame of reference about politics and life but it seems that elected office has become career employment and like members of any big company, employees find its cya-safer to avoid issues than to confront them. As a result, all matters of importance now require a political solution as opposed to a practical one. The focus on being re-elected has become so intense as to obscure any sense of pragmatism or concession to the point that congress has exceeded the bounds of gridlock and is now abandoning the responsibilities for which they were elected. All in favor of looking good in the polls. This trend falls heavily to the conservative Republican side but the Dems aren't entirely innocent either. Our entire elected government has begun to look like a bunch of clowns hiding behind greasepaint as they act to entertain their electorate. The only thing missing is a little car on the floor of the house driving around, packed with our elected officials, as they scream and yell obscenities at one another. Well they can keep my popcorn and cotton candy. I'm watching the high wire act and hoping they all fall into a great big net and get carried out of the center ring. So much for the circus metaphor.
It's sad and shameful that the people we elect have decided to forego what's best for the country in favor of what's best for themselves. Clowns can be happy or sad, but never serious. As Americans, it's time we looked seriously at term limits. Remember a few years ago when some Republicans ran on the promise of not running for a second term.... not one kept that promise nor did we fail to re-elect them. I guess in some ways, we are getting what we deserve.
We used to laugh at the brawls and chaos depicted in the news coverage of legislatures in third world countries. Doesn't look so funny now.
In fairness, there are a few on both sides of the aisle who have tried to stay above the fray and do their work but for the most part, the serious business of running our country is in the hands of clowns. A line from the movie, A Thousand Clowns, seems appropriate: "If things aren't funny then they're exactly what they are; and then they're like a long dental appointment".
Lets get all these clowns out of office.
