Editorial

Regaining respect will take Congress a long time

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Belittling Congress is nothing new.

"Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself." -- Mark Twain, a Biography

But the fact that a New York Times/CBS News poll shows that a record 82 percent of Americans now disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job, should not be cause for rejoicing by critics.

Instead, we should be sad that most citizens hold perhaps the most important branch in such low regard.

The Times has been asking the question only since 1977, but the recent results are even lower than 1995, when another political stalemate led to a government shutdown that year.

According to the survey, four out of five said the debt ceiling debate was more about gaining political advantage than about doing what is best for the country.

Almost 75 percent said the debate had harmed the image of the United States in the rest of the world.

Unfortunately, that distrust has resulted in the loss of trillions of dollars by stock market investors over the last few days.

The problem can be traced to voters who have looked the other way while their representatives, senators and presidents have allowed the country to run up such huge deficits.

Until a balanced federal budget is the norm instead of an aberration, respect for Washington will continue to be rare.

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  • I don't remember exactly how long I have been hearing the term, "Balanced Budget," with candidate promises to rectify the gaining debt (back when it was only about one billion). We now, it seems, have waited too long to even try to close the Barn-Door, as the critters 'inside,' stole it and sold it.

    This last Debt Cap lifting should show how our Representatives play us like a fish on a trout-line. The receive two, plus, trillion immediately, but for some reason need ten years to find a way to reduce spending by a like amount. Anyone remember the "Gong Show," where the bad entertainers are 'Gonged' off the stage?? Perhaps, it is now time to ring the Gong, stop all spending over the ninety percent of assured income level, and allow our country to sink or float; and if float, at what Free-board it really has.

    One thing that bothers this old war-horse, paying money to countries that hate us, and are Committed to our destruction, in the guise of helping their economy (poor people), when the monies given are used to find ways to kill us, or stuff the pockets of the supposed leadership. That is but one, ongoing, expense we do not need, nor should want. Nuff Said, lest I rant too much.

    Yeee-Haaa!!!, as Dawn says, 'I know who does have the answers.' For those who read this far, thanks.

    -- Posted by Navyblue on Thu, Aug 11, 2011, at 6:06 PM
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