Sitting here in God's Waiting Room today, something is bouncing around the walls, requiring me to use personal pronouns, generally avoided in these articles. However, there is no other way to tell this story.
It really grinds on me that the "My way, or the highway" small group in the Republican Conference is holding the conference and, thus, the country hostage. I hope they're proud of what they have achieved. As a strong Conservative and believer in the Capitalist system, there is no doubt in my mind they have destroyed whatever validity they genuinely hold on the issues they believe in.
Who will take their words seriously in the future?
It is time to quit being rogues and be representatives.
Our forefathers did not envision Congress as the enemy of our country. Congress was to be a servant of "We the People."
People of all beliefs were to gather to discuss their differing opinions and then arrive at answers for the American people. That is not happening today.
The leadership in the two political parties is so focused on power that they have forgotten they're there to be legislators representing all Americans.
The following is the oath of office Members take at the start of each session of Congress.
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."
The word Republican or Democrat does not appear anywhere in the oath.
During my self-imposed 12-year term limit, I ran as a Republican. During reapportionment, some in our state legislature thought it was time for me to retire. They gerrymandered my District dramatically. Many counties they included were heavily Democrat. I'm not sure Republicans could even purchase gas in a couple of them.
The counties with a predominantly Republican population were removed. It did not look good for being elected in the new District.
The District stretched from the Mississippi River on the east to the entire width of Iowa, except for one county on the west side. Our home is one mile east of the western border of the District.
However, following a successful election, it was time to start working in the new District.
The rumor on the street was, "Well, he's Republican. No point talking to him about anything because he won't listen to us." That is how the Democrats in those counties had been raised.
We made it a point in our office to advertise that all the people in the District were paying our wages. Our job was to work for everyone. We were non-partisan and wanted to listen to anyone who had a problem in the District. We did not care what their voter ID card said. It didn't matter if they sent us a snail mail, called on the telephone, or walked through the door; we were there to help them all.
Things changed. People started coming to our office for help with issues. Many times, we could resolve their concerns much faster than my Democratic predecessor had done. That word spread rapidly. We become swamped solving problems and listening to people's opinions.
In the following elections, the Democrat counties voted our way. We even won the home precinct of my opponent in one election.
If we follow the intent of our US Constitution, when people of good faith sit down and discuss and debate their issues, they will find a solution that can be reached if both sides are willing to give just a little.
Some people label that "compromise." In reality, that's when most Americans are truly represented, and not just the "My way or the highway" fringes.
Put the hate away; it only leads to gridlock.
It is a past time for Congress to put aside spending their time attempting to gain more political power and longevity. Hey, boys and girls, there are millions of Americans who would like representation.
Term limits? Hmm.
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