Political Hypnosis

Perhaps you've noticed it. The channel on the television that has the capability to be simply mesmerizing. Whether it excites you to the edge of your seat, or nearly bores you to sleep you still cannot escape it. I, of course, am referring to C-SPAN.

On my cable line-up C-SPAN falls neatly in between the macho and the intriguing (Spike TV and the Travel Channel respectively). Inevitably as I'm flipping through my eye catches some old windbag standing behind a nice wooden podium (that we all paid for) thanking the Gentleman from Texas or the Gentlewoman, yes they use that term, from New York for presenting the motion that essentially thanks the other members of Congress for presenting a motion.

Now, I do enjoy a good debate every now and then...but what occurs in our legislative branch is absolutely ridiculous. I always seem to find myself angered at whatever debate seems to be occurring. If not the content of the debate itself, then it's the sickeningly sweet manner in which it is being carried out.

Another point of contention I find while watching C-SPAN is the relative low attendance rate of our elected representatives. Apparently they have not been informed of the existence of things like University or public school attendance policies. I'm paying these people to be there, argue, and vote...not hobnob around our nation's capitol.

If our Congress should model anything, I would like to see it more like the House of Commons in the UK. In the House of Commons, the high ranking officials (like our so called Speaker of the House) is in daily attendance! Yes...nearly daily! If you wish to see true debate...and sometimes flat-out arguments, then the House of Commons is the one to watch. Those folks have the double-edged statement down to an art. How anything can possibly get done in there I have no clue, but it does...and it's quite entertaining to watch.

And on top of all this....they continue to give themselves raises, in addition to all the um...(looking for a delicate word) lobbist....gifts....they receive.

Yes sir, after careful consideration, and countless instances of being mesmerized by C-SPAN I have decided that this teaching thing is too much like work....I think I'd rather be a Senator.

May God keep You, and the kind Gentleman from Texas, and the kind Gentlewoman from Illinois, and the kind gentleman from....this and every night.

It might be more worthwhile if we stopped wringing our hands and started ringing our congressmen. ~Author Unknown

Christmas is the time when kids tell Santa what they want and adults pay for it. Deficits are when adults tell government what they want and their kids pay for it. ~Richard Lamm

The mistakes made by Congress wouldn't be so bad if the next Congress didn't keep trying to correct them. ~Cullen Hightower