Clowns in Congress act like spoiled little kids

It has become clear that divisiveness is plaguing our country. I recently heard an interview with an Illinois Republican who claimed that if Senate Democrats didn’t like being shut out of the small group writing healthcare legislation in secret, they should “get in there and get involved.”

Really? And how were they supposed to do that when even many Republicans had no clue what is being decided about healthcare? It appears that McConnell and his aides singlehandedly wrote the healthcare law that could be passed shortly. This is not the way a representative democracy is supposed to work. And it is clearly not what the framers of the Constitution envisioned.

When I look at our elected representatives in Congress (not elected “leaders” – they “represent” us), they appear to be a group of little kids: “He started it.” “No, he started it.” Often, adults will threaten to lock kids in a room and not let them out until they can “play nice.” Maybe we should do that with these clowns. Or better yet, vote them all out of office and start over with reasonable people who can work together.

Unfortunately, the rancor in the Legislature has spilled over to the American public. The recent shooting in Alexandria is a horrific example of the divide seen in many communities. It is hard to say which came first, the divisions in Congress or the divisions in our society. Regardless, we are a better people than this. We have shown ourselves to be able to come together to solve problems in the past. We just need to find the will and compassion to do it again, before it is too late. Let’s show Congress how people can cooperate by listening and communicating with the “other side” rather than fighting.

This story was originally published June 24, 2017 at 4:12 PM with the headline "Clowns in Congress act like spoiled little kids."