ANOTHER SATURDAY MORNING SERIAL

Most of you are too young to remember Saturday Morning Serials that always preceded the Saturday Western or action film.

Once again Hairbreadth Harry and his merry band (a.k.a John Boehner and Republican stalwarts) have caught the fair maiden just as she was toppling over the precipice---in spite of the efforts of the archvillain, Crabby Appleton (a.k.a. Ted Cruz) to thwart the rescue. How many times have we seen this tired old Saturday Morning serial?

And, once again, a bandaid has been applied on a wound requiring stitches and layers of dressing. Will we apply another bandaid in February, or, hope springing eternal in the human breast, will the politicos get serious and really get down to work in a bi-partisan effort to govern; yes, I said govern! Do you remember that word? It’s what governments, by definition, are supposed to do, In the case of Congress, govern means legislate, and legislate means thinking out courses of action for the good of all the people and enacting these actions into law.

I don’t know if it can happen in view of the fractured schismatic cesspool which Congress has become. The ability to sit down seriously together and find common ground seems to be a lost art. I hope I’m wrong.

I love America---and I have never been more ashamed of her government. The rest of the world must be shaking their heads and saying, “What the hell has happened over there?  Have they lost their senses?” The answer, apparently, is yes. How a power of our magnitude can lose its way so violently has to frighten the rest of the world. As the President inferred, our enemies are licking their chops; our competitors are rubbing their hands with glee; our friends are shaking their heads in sorrow. It is not a pretty sight.

The Republicans have rarely stood lower in public esteem, although the Democrats and the President aren’t a helluva lot better in ratings. I note that Big Business America, the bankroll for the G.O.P., is alarmed at the fractious nature of their party and its vociferous active minority called the Tea Party and want to start putting some money into campaigns to support more reasonable candidates. But then you have the cavernous deep pockets of the Koch Brothers supporting the Tea Party. I hope Big Business puts its money where its mouth is.

As an alcoholic attests at an AA meeting, admit we have been drunk and now are seeking sober ways. We have to get back on the path of responsible government. I pray it’s not too late.