UNDER THE BIG TENT

I suppose you could call what is going on in Congress a carnival or circus, except for the fact that circuses and carnivals are supposed to be fun. This display of misplaced intransigence and face-saving by the Republicans reminds me of the old adage about the lunatics running the asylum.

How a minority can hold a country hostage is a travesty against democracy.  The antics of the ringleader and prime voice of this opposition, Senator Ted Cruz, Canadian-born but an American citizen, make one think he is really an alien from outer space.  Cruz is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Princeton and a Cum Laude lawyer from Harvard Law School, impressive credentials but somewhere along the line his natural conservatism skewed into radical demagoguery fed by a massive ego. But he has a cadre of fellow Tea Partyites in the House, as well as the Senate, who go along with his garish side show. A House Leader who has forgotten how to lead doesn’t help.

America needs contrasting parties: Conservatives vs. Liberals, Federalism vs. States Rights, Pro-Life vs. Choice, Big Spenders vs. Austerity Hawks.  This is how democracy is supposed to work. Above all, however, is the National Interest where the good of the country is first priority. That national interest is being violated by the intransigence that refuses to fund the government and to increase the debt limit, Once more, in the eyes of the world, the American limousine is seen careening toward a deep abyss, and they must shake their heads and wonder.

Oh, I believe at the last possible minute, the debt crisis will be averted, probably with some temporary measure which will have to be dealt with again in the near future. This is not the way to run a government. 

In a divided government such as we have, true bi-partisanship has to be the answer, Lots of things need attention: Obamacare, tax reform, job creation, social security, infrastructure renovation and other pressing problems. Instead of holding the government hostage, pass the necessary legislation to fund the government, raise the debt ceiling and then form a bi-partisan commission to study and make recommendations for our many priorities. Work together, compromise but keep the good of the country the number one priority.

It used to work that way. Have we changed that much? Give it a try. Let’s try statesmanship and end the circus.