Civility. Where Did it Go?

Sitting here in God’s Waiting Room, bouncing off the walls is a question some folks keep asking, “What is so wrong with our Congress today?” They are asking an important but complex question. The answer equals another edition of ‘Gone with the Wind.’ For the sake of brevity, the situation can be boiled down to four words: greed, power, hate, and selfishness.

Through good times and bad, our country has stood strong, based on the principles laid out in the Constitution of the United States. We are to put God first, then country, community, family, and then ourselves, in that exact order. However, in recent years, God and country have been pushed aside, and “me” has moved to the top of the list.

God and country have been pushed aside, and “me” has moved to the top of the list

Before those who are non-believers get their undies in a bunch “because the government is promoting a religion,” cool your jets, folks. The government is not promoting a religion; it is identifying the principles that people of good faith follow in order to live a good and decent life—a life governed by the rule of law.

Our forefathers designed Congress to have elected representatives of the people come together, discuss the issues of the day, and take actions that benefit the entire country. It is supposed to always be country first, guided by the principles laid out by God. That is the foundation upon which our country is built.

People elected from all walks of life with differing opinions and points of view, are to debate and discuss the issues of the day with which our country must deal. The debate can become heated and filled with passion; however, when the negotiation, and occasionally a loud yell or two, are finished, the participants will probably go to dinner together. One respects the other's right to hold a different opinion—a right that is guaranteed in our Constitution. A total difference of opinion is not a reason to hate the other person. There would be many more divorced people if it were.

One political party is always in competition with the other. The party with the most elected people runs the show and therefore can move their point of view forward.

God's principles and America first have been swept aside, replaced with a conquest for raw power and self-interest

A tough system, but it works, even as ugly as it can be from time to time. Bottom line, America comes first. Regardless of opinion, everyone is an American First, political feelings are second.

Then along came the thirst for total, raw, unbridled power; to win elections at any cost. Consultants, making millions of dollars, began putting together attacks rather than tough campaigns. They discovered a method of defeating good candidates with a weak candidate representing unpopular issues, and the money rolling in grew as well. The formula is a direct violation of the principles held by the men who wrote our Constitution. A poisonous formula that dictates forgetting the issues and tearing down the personal reputation of the strong candidate. Make them appear to be such a disgusting person their support will wither away.

God's principles and America first have been swept aside, replaced with a conquest for raw power and self-interest. As a result, today we have only a few people who have differing opinions, who desire to work with those of opposing ideas for the good of the country. Those who stay are taught to hate each other. "It's my way or the highway" has become the order of the day. The American people who go to work every day are paying the bill. 

“We The People” are now owned by a government that is bloated and responsible to no one

Many nice-sounding programs have been developed not to serve the people but to buy a block of votes for a specific political party. Take a look at some of the welfare programs, as examples.

Due to a cadre of people in both political parties staying in Congress for twenty, thirty, forty years and longer, the great idea our forefathers put together has turned into the "good old boys club." Re-election tops the priority list, not America First. As a result, the turnover at election time is about 30-40%. The good, fresh new people we elect get so discouraged with the system that they leave. On the evening news, you will see the same people who were there, in leadership positions, 35-40 years ago.

So the short answer to the question is “we the people” are now owned by a government that is bloated, responsible to no one, aided by a group of men and women more worried about themselves than the country, who hate each other and continue to build the hatred to stay in office where they are bleeding the taxpayer to death with billions of dollars being spent on programs that benefit their buddies and enrich themselves in a manner that is beyond the pale. Greed, power, hate, and selfishness are ruining our Congress.

Until we get our priorities back to God, country, community, family, and then ourselves, in that specific order, nothing is going to change for the better.

Just sayin’.