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Pages remind Congress of America's future
I was saddened to learn that the House of Representatives has decided to end the storied 200-year-old House page program.
Being fortunate to serve Congress as a page in the 2003 school year is an experience I will treasure forever. This program afforded me the opportunity to meet people from all over the country, live and work in our nation's capital and, most important, to bear witness to American history. The fact that a 16-year-old girl from working-class roots from Etna could stand on the House floor every day is a testament to what makes America great.
In some ways, the pages' presence in that chamber served as a reminder of America's future. Yes, my experience revealed many of Congress' flaws and certainly the people within it, but I left it with the hope that the possibility to do better was attainable. I always understood that it was ultimately the American people who gave me this opportunity, and in turn I always had the responsibility to be engaged and encourage others to do the same.
So in the midst of political and economic chaos, my duty as a former congressional page is to remind us to never give up hope in our institutions and to always hold our representatives accountable to make things better.
MARY SWICK
Etna
Quick to blame
As I sit, watch and listen as our government, economy, infrastructure and/or education systems continue to crumble, I am amazed how no one takes responsibility.
The Democrats blame the Republicans and vice versa.
They point fingers and blame each other but never take responsibility. When I was growing up, I was taught to take responsibility for my actions.
Take responsibility and tell young adults why they can't get loans to go to college. Tell a family why it can't get a loan to buy a home. Explain to us why our roads and bridges are crumbling. Explain why schools are cutting programs and teachers and shutting their doors. Explain why there are so many people unemployed who can't put food on the table for their families or gas in the car.
Ask one of your elected officials, and I feel confident that he or she will find a way not to take responsibility but will quickly blame the other political party or its predecessor.
First Published August 11, 2011 12:00 am
