Let's Make a Deal

The other night Congress made a deal that stopped the shutdown. Good for them. Kinda. The news media made a great big show of the idea that a shutdown would have left our troops in the lurch. Troops on the front lines were once considered emergency personnel and exempt from a shut down. Somehow their designation must have been changed to non-emergency. Things that make you go hmmmm. The stuff going on behind the scenes is disconcerting to say the least. And the bureaucracy around it is so unwieldly that fixing it is almost impossible.

But let's talk turkey here: both sides have a brain cramp somewhere. The left is hell-bent to spend all of our hard-earned money. The right is hell-bent to cut everything. Wouldn't it be nice if we could have a normal conversation with our representatives so that rational thought would prevail?

Why do they continually want to cut Medicare and Social Security? They complain about lack of healthcare but want to cut the only system that really helps seniors with healthcare. If we had to pay more for my husband's Medicare it would be a disaster financially. It's the "fixed income thing" - and Congress is completely oblivious to it. Because someone is on a roll- or what I like to call the ideology trains.Two of the running in opposite directions and there are ends to the tracks just up ahead!

Here's some food for thought- how about the processes of bidding and purchasing within the federal government? Do you think we could do some good revamping there? They always go with low bidder, which can often result in money wasted from stuff that isn't up to par. Then they'll turn around and purchase something that should have cost very little and pay a whopper price for it. (Ok they could've gone to the local hardware store for 5 bucks instead of some contractor who charges $2000. Get the picture?) Padding the budgets, wasteful practices, fraud both in and out of the system -- those areas all cost taxpayer money. But when our Congress gets on an idea roll for left or right, truth is often left behind in the dust. Sometimes a program should be cut (especially socialist ones or ones that obviously go against what America has always stood for), but sometimes it's practices within the main structure.

One can only hope that the people in charge of us will one day soon get a clue and start really cutting the pork and leave the things which affect real people alone. I hope so. I love this country. Watching it cave in on itself is extremely sad.

Strategic Decisions

As we end this last ridiculous session of Congress and prepare to start up a new one (guaranteed to be a huge battleground), it would be good if we stopped to reflect on a few truths before we jump into the fire.

America is supposed to be run by people that we as citizens have chosen as representatives. A true democracy should be free and equal in its government. The bad news is that when our newly elected folks get to Washington DC with their ideals and excitement, their first encounter will be the establishment.

Many years ago I spoke to Senator Jim McClure (now deceased) of Idaho while we kids were on a tour of the Capitol. He said that one of the most difficult things for the constituents to grasp is that many elected officials only appear at Congressional sessions when the cameras are turned on so they can look good. Most of the time they work from their offices. When new people come to Congress with their hearts set on change, they run up against the good ol' boys and the lobbyists who do not want change. Many have been there for eons and have so much power that they literally can stymie anything new brought up by a member.

In Christianity, we call them "strongholds." They are run by "principalities"- and are set in place by powerful critters that have been allowed free reign for a very long time. So how do we get rid of a stronghold?

You overpower it. In the natural realm, an election alone will not break a stronghold. It's a good start, but the main issue is how the newly elected folks operate. They need wisdom, they need inner strength to stand against the pressure from the WH or even their own party. There are strongholds in both parties, not just one.It will require a united front. Can they do it?

They can, but only with our help.They have to understand that this nation will not keep them in the halls of Congress if they do not accomplish the will of the people of their state. They must make strategic decisions, not just pal around with the establishment and seek power.

As citizens of America, we need to keep tabs on our elected officials. We need to make our voices known! All of the Reps and Senators have emails these days- use them to voice your opinions. Keep track of what Congress is doing, and what issues are before them. If you are silent, the chances of real forward movement are nil. If the men and women of Congress know you are watching, they will be far more likely to stand strong in the face of peer pressure.

Don't rely on the news media or your party, get information and pay attention!