Ok, Congress is doing it again. They whine, scream and in general pitch a fit worthy of a spoiled two year old, take the government to the brink of a shutdown and then? Well, they settle down and act like adults, remove all the stumbling blocks they intentionally put in there and get down to the business of governing all the while bitching that they don’t get to go home on time. Thankfully, it looks like republicans and democrats are pulling back from the brink and the 2012 budget will get done and we will get some type of deal on payroll taxes. Great, but it pisses me off we had to go through this crap again.
I suggest we do the same thing we would do with our children in similar situations. At my house when my kids don’t get their homework done because they’re screwing around, a few of things happen. First, they have to work on nothing else until the homework is done. Second, they have to apologize to everyone they negatively impacted. This includes any teacher or friend that was counting on them to get their work done, the parent that had to stay up late to make sure the homework got done etc. Third, my kids lose something that they really wanted, like a trip to the movies or going to a friend’s house.
How would this apply to Congress? First, they have to work until they get the budget done and the payroll tax issue resolved. No breaks until Congress finishes and a bill is on the President’s desk. The American people deserve to know Congress has completed this important job.
Second, apologize to the American people for acting like children. This applies to republicans and democrats equally. Everyone who had a hand in this is to blame. It’s like I tell my kids, I don’t want to hear who did what to whom. Congress needs to figure out how to work together without bringing the Country to the brink every time they don’t get along.
Third, Congress needs to have their vacations canceled. Congresspeople and senators need to pay the consequences of screwing around. So sorry, they need to stay in Washington and work on all of the other issues that they have ignored while they had their petty squabbles. How about immigration, education, raising levels of poverty, or crumbling and outdated infrastructure? All of these issues are killing our country and have been ignored. So sorry boys and girls you stay in Washington and find solutions. You don’t get to go home until you find solutions and bills are on the President’s desk or your constituenents boot you out of office.
When Congress starts whining that they are being treated like babies, the respone is the same that I give to my kids. When you stop acting like a baby, I’ll stop treating you like a baby.
