Congress Has Got to Go Home
Posted: Friday, February 06, 2009
by Jean Purcell
OpineBooks.com
When visitors way-overstayed at our house of an evening, my dad would say, "Goodnight, everybody. I've got to go to bed so you people can go home."
There are some folks I want to tell, "You've got to leave! Go home! I'd like to give you an assist to the door, but you don't get it, and I don't know how to make it happen. You have obviously not realized yet that you have clearly overstayed. I have nothing personal against you. This is a simple matter of status quo that comes when you stay anywhere, except home, too long! When you make bad decisions, you affect millions of people very badly. Go home, please!"
Hard-working Americans can figure the way out on their own and with others if left alone by Congress, if not plunged into more national debt that the American taxpayers must cover. There will likely be more cash paid under the table than ever, to escape taxes in a hard time, and that, too, is sad. But people can feel pushed into such corners when they have no say, no voice, no power, when even their opinions are ignored. I hear this kind of talk in public.
When the recent economic recovery legislation called TARP was passed, committing over $700 Billion of our taxes, over 50% of Americans were against TARP. The Congress passed it anyway. After all, what do we know?
The second round, just finished, will commit. at last report, $805 Billion of debt on the backs of our tax payments. I don't see how our taxes will be enough. During the debates, the cover came off the secret that the Senate really did not know the purpose of the legislation. Some called it "stimulus." Others called it "spending." Some called it "tax relief," and others called it "mortgage relief." That is how the main mission was described. It does not matter which description, if any, was correct.
The American people, by an overwhelming 60%, have said they are against this second round too. Congress will pass it anyway. After all, what do citizens know?
From the first time Secretary of the Treasury Paulson spoke about the crisis, it smelled to many of us like a con game. It resembled the quick sales that slick people try to push buyers into, to push them to make rushed decisions about big amounts of money. "Sign now! We can't give you this help later!"
The majority of Congress fell for it! And the working American people, getting no perks of being a Senator or a Representative in Congress, knew it was wrong. So far, they are obligating us , not Congress, for a total of about 2 Trillion dollars .
There are some in Congress that try to listen. Yet, what person following these matters can conclude that this current situation is not an example of taxation with representation ? When more than half the people say they do not want something done and Congress does it anyway , what is that? We are the "deep pockets" that Congress is looking to when they vote themselves raises, as recently happened, and as they obligate us for Trillions of debt they arrange.
And senators that favor these legislations, by whatever name the laws are passed, cannot tell us how the figures are arrived at. They do not know. They cannot describe a well-thought process, a patient working of a crisis. In the end, the money will not likely flow for quite a while, maybe years.
I will not name here the Democrats and Republicans now in office whom I respect and admire. They have given 20 and more years of service to the American people through their service in Congress. They deserve our thanks.
However, I believe that it is time for all of us who vote to make a critical decision at this time. Wherever we live, whatever the state among the 50 states, we need to learn how long our U. S. representatives and senators have served so far.
Once we know, we should choose candidates who have served no more than 12 consecutive years. This is the only way we can get fresh thinking in Congress and show that we, as voters want to be represented.
If someone is not doing well before their first term of two years or six years is up, we should not vote for them again, no matter what they promise us.
Presidents have term limits. Governors have term limits. Many if not most mayors have term limits. I propose that we voluntarily impose term limits by refusing to allow anyone to be in office more than 12 consecutive years.
Anyone who leaves Congress can always run again after they have been out for a while, after they have settled in again among real, everyday people. If they stay around Washington and do not go home, as is the case with many in Congress, then we know for sure they are not representing us.
Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) is in her fourth Senate term. That's 24 years as of 2014. In the next election, five years from now, a Democrat, Republican, or Independent. should replace her. They, in turn, can count on no more than two Senate terms, or 12 years, maximum.
Senator Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) entered the U. S. Senate in 2006. Before that he served in the House from 1987 to 2005. He has now served in Congress for 19 years. In the 2014 election, a Democrat, Republican, or Independent should replace him. They, in turn, can count on no more than two Senate terms, or 12 years.
Representative Elijah Cummings (D-MD) elected in 1996 in a special election, when he replaced Rep. Mfume, has been in Congress for 12 years. It is time for him to be replaced in the 2010 election, by a Democrat, Republican, or Independent. I congratulate Representative Cummings for his unusual e-mails back to me. They are unusual because they actually address the concern I e-mailed about.
Most replacements will be people well aware of the national issues. Most will go to Washington from their state legislatures or they will be returning to Congress, eventually, after several years away.
We must show 12-year incumbents the door. Trying this will likely show that nothing is lost and much is gained. If that does not work, however, we must find other ways to return to influence as citizens, those who do not pay favors or work the system. We are, right now, being taxed and committed, into the Trillions of Dollars, without representation!
I want to sleep better at night over how citizens of our country are being served by those in Congress.
The only way is for the present group in Washington to go home for a while!
And let's not let anyone who is sent to serve us stay too long ever again, no matter how nice or well-serving a guy or gal he/she is!
You can use Google to find your U. S. Congress Senators and Representative. You can also use Google to find information about how long they have been in Congress, in one chamber or both.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Jane, I try to stay away from politics but it's inevitable and it seems all things are political. I couldn't agree with you more with your suggestion to Congress. I know I would have loved your Dad but would have been very fond of him too! It's not a good thing to stay longer than you're wanted. I like his way of handling detainees. *smile* Praying you're very well and enjoying the weekend.Dear Avis, thank you so much for reading and letting me know your thoughts on this. I try to stay away from politics, too, but sometimes I veer off into topics like the present one. I especially try not to be virulently with or against anyone, for God hates hatred, and there is too much of it going away re: politics.
You really "got" my Dad! He was such a kind, caring, sharing, and giving person, but he had to get up early every day and also he loved a good laugh with people who could get it, too. I know he would have loved you too and enjoyed your company!You would have had opportunity for a lot of trade-offs of jokes. He was a great spinner of tales, too, and loved to try them out on children. It means so much to me that you got all of that without knowing any of the details.
Blessings always to you,
~JaneDear Jane, I like that you "got" me! I'm laughing as I think of the trade-offs and tales your dad and I would have spun. I chide myself sometimes because I think that maybe I'm not serious enough when I should be. Like you dad, I love a good laugh and I laugh often. Your public political involvement as a Warpie has never been virulent. It is very clear Christ is your hope and you live to please Him. Sorry for bouncing around with my thoughts but I blame the late cup of coffee. Blessings to you my beloved friend. Thank you for being the wonderful daughter you are. (Your parents and Christ.)Dear Avis, bounce around thoughts anytime! I treasure them! I thought of something that would give you a chuckle. Dad knew I could be really gullible, and he also knew I could not remember his jokes, so he could tell them again and again without worrying I knew the punch line. But he loved to play jokes, and would take any spontaneous opportunity. One day I came home and he had the new color TV overturned on Mother's new rug in the living room. As I started to blurt out, "Hi, what are you working on?" he raised his head from behind the set and said, "Shh! Don't let your mother hear us!"
I walked over to speak softly to him and whispered, "What's wrong?!!" Poor man looked so perturbed. He said, worriedly, "I needed to do a little work on this TV and when I turned it over...ALL the color ran out!"
And I believed him!!! The first thought was, "Mother's new rug!"
Soon she opened the door that he had closed off, to the kitchen, and said, "What's going on?"
I started to panic for Dad, and then I saw the little smile forming at the corners of her mouth.
He got so much mileage out of that story and now my grown daughters love to retell it!
If you had been there, don't you think you would have been like Mom, "onto" his joke?
Jane, until we the people get a grasp on reality nothing will change in their agenda. Sure we are in fear. Just as you pointed out in the article. We somehow fail to realize this president and these so called leaders were not elected by the entire voting populace but only by those who voted. All one with common sense can do is go down the list and see what they stand for and what they have done. yet, we can write until blue in the face it matters not. We are on the train going to their desitination. Good article. Best wishes.Robert, I do not feel encouraged, either, so far.
I truly believe that as citizens we must try to keep track of this as much as possible, though most of it is forcibly out of our hands, except to help each other locally.
I truly believe that more will be accomplished for the suffering by our prayers and watchfulness to lend a hand...or two hands.
I know it may sound pious to say this, or foolish, but I believe that God will work all of this together for good to those who love Him, per Romans 8: 28, 29. Meanwhile, everyone suffers together, whether believers or not.
Thanks as always for writing. I value your comments!
~Jane
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