The government partial shutdown is over,
though the talking about it goes on. We
were, according to some accounts, brought to the very brink of disaster, the near
collapse of the world economy, the permanent loss of our vast wildernesses so
ably protected by forest rangers in cooperation with Smoky Bear. I know I was worried. After, all how would all that nature survive
without federal help?
But the disaster was averted thanks to
the stellar leadership of our valiant Senators and a few stalwart members of
the House. In all my nearly sixty-seven
years I’ve rarely seen such cohesive and concerted leadership. Deals were made. And I’m sure the deals were all to the
benefit of the vast majority of Americans.
We’ll never really know of course.
I guess one Senator, from Kentucky I believe, is denying that the two
billion dollar dam project in his state had anything to do with the deal
making. Of course not. The deals that are yet to be revealed will
also have nothing to do with anything more than furthering the cause of the
whole nation.
It was interesting to see that the
Congress and the administration and all those hardworking federal bureaucrats
will now be fully participating in the new health care system. They aren’t?
Funny, I thought sure that would have been a concession on the part of
the party in power. So once again a law
is passed, all nice and legal like, that doesn’t apply equally to all the
citizenry. What a surprise. If there is one thing that we need to learn
it’s that the folks we elect to high office take the “high” part very
seriously. They very quickly come to
believe that they are high above the ignorant masses that sent them to the
glory land that is Washington, DC.
Now some of my kind readers may feel I’m
being sarcastic towards, and harsh on, those well intentioned elected folks and
the entourages with which they surround themselves. And that may be true. One time I did a little research and learned
about the costs of keeping our Senators and Congressman in the manner to which
they so richly deserve. I’m not going to
go on and on with an itemized list of transportation costs, office expenses,
salaries for aides and administrative assistants, cafeterias, postage, fitness opportunities
and the like. We all know it’s a tough
job representing the people. It’s tough
learning all about the issues and then reading the bills that come before them
so that smart votes can be made. Yes
informed votes are important which is why it’s curious to learn (by their own
admission) that our legislators often pass bills that they don’t read or of which
they’ve only read summaries. But I’m
just covering old ground here.
And covering old ground is easy because
those folks in Washington do it over and over again. They fight the same battles in the same
foolish way. They are as predictable as
sunrise and sunset. They are so firmly
set in their self-serving circle of being self-serving that when we see honest
representation we are truly surprised. When a few members of the House actually
try to represent their districts with actions following their campaign promises
the news agencies think those members are trying to pull a fast one. Or they accuse them of being crazy
radicals. Strange world over there in
Washington.
But I’m putting politics away for a
little while. I’m going to focus on
poetry, family reunions and other more positive things. If we come to the brink of disaster again I’m
sure I’ll pick up hints from friends and relatives and then I’ll be sure to
start paying attention.
Now have a fine day.
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