March 30, 2017
“Congress is NOT the Place!”
While there are those who vote for a “Party Line,” the vast majority of Americans expect that all elected officials, after the voting is done, will do the right thing for this country and all people. Honesty, truthfulness, transparency, and integrity are the hallmarks of excellent leaders. That's what we elect, people to lead us, not politicians who will seek to install one particular ideology.
Certainly there are issues which follow particular party lines, but most of the decisions that are made in Washington affect all of us, and should not be decided based on what the “party leadership” thinks will get them elected again. Those decisions should and must be made based on facts and evidence. Yes, where there is “smoke, there is often fire,” but it's not possible to see if there is fire if the “firemen” don't wade into the smoke to made sure that everything is okay.
Today, this nation faces such “smoke.” Whether there is a fire isn't the point. The men and women who are supposed to be our “firemen” are supposed to step into that smoke and find out where it leads, if anywhere. We have two fire departments at work right now which are supposed to be looking to see if there's a fire or just bad smoke. The Senate appears to be wading directly into the smoke, honestly looking to see if there is anything dangerous that threatens our democracy. On the other hand, the House “firemen” appear to be at the mercy of a “fire chief” who started into the smoke, and, instead of leading the search, has created more smoke by his actions. Unless he steps aside and allows someone else to lead the search, the fire may continue to smolder until flames erupt. Even the “fire chief's boss” is of no help. He apparently thinks that the smoke is fine and has no interest in determining if there is a fire at all!
Would any of you stand outside of your house while the smoke billows and the firemen stand around doing nothing? I would expect that everyone would scream and demand that the firemen do something to get rid of the smoke and make certain that the house is safe from a fire source. That's what our “leaders” in Congress are supposed to do, find the truth and either extinguish the fire or clear away the smoke so that we, the “homeowners” can feel safe that there is no danger to our house.
There is no place for “politics” when it comes to our security! There is too much smoke; something smells bad; and some of the “firemen” and their bosses don't seem to care! If they don't do the right thing, these bosses will be looking for new jobs very soon!
Robert Butler
P.O. Box 193
Marmaduke, AR 72443
"...Therefore, never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee...: Meditation 17 by John Donne 1624
