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Voters are comfortable with their own 'bums'
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One of the most disheartening situations confronting concerned Americans for years has been the inability of Congress to take action on the many serious issues facing our country. Gridlock is the term most often applied to the constant bickering and partisanship occurring between Republicans and Democrats.
Each party has a majority of didactic members who boast of voting the party line 98 percent of the time. In my opinion, that is exactly what America does not need. Cooperation, flexibility and compromise are what is needed, not intransigence.
Some have rallied around the cry, "Throw the bums out!" I agree, but realistically, that will never happen. The "bums" referred to are in some other district or state, not in the voter's own bailiwick. Most incumbents (the bums?) are loved by their own constituents. Why? They bring back the pork from Washington, their free mailings tout their achievements and their names are continually in the local media, all of which makes it very difficult for their challengers at election time.
A person would have to be naive (at best) or delusional (at worst) to think there will be much of a changeover in Congress after this fall's election. One can have hope for some new blood (and by all means, please go out and vote for it), but if anyone wants to wager on big changes in a newly elected Congress, my advice would be to keep his wallet in his pocket.
W.T. RICE
Butler
First Published July 12, 2012 12:00 am
