Congress failing us

EDITOR:

We are being told by our leaders and many pundits that we must realize the cost of health care is escalating at an alarming rate and millions cannot afford adequate medical insurance or get proper health care. Well, that is not a big news bulletin. We, the average Americans, have known this for a long time. They are preaching to the choir.

We are accused of all sorts of wicked motivations or ignorance if we question or oppose some of the aspects of our government's efforts to implement a universal health care system. It is the long past record of our government that causes many to question and fear what horrendous problems might be created in the name of health care. We need a viable health care system not another can of worms that solves nothing, creates more problems and another wasteful government project.

Over the years when listening to any one of our leaders on an individual basis they express concern about our national debt. Our leaders tell us about their concern for the dangerous financial straits of our Social Security and Medicare systems. They are appalled by the failure of the housing market. They bemoan the payout of huge bonuses from the bailout program. They are very aware of the severe problems caused by our dependence on foreign petroleum. They expressed extreme concerns over the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The list goes on.

These hackneyed pronouncements come from many of the very representatives who failed to prevent or solve the problems they bemoan. Many of them even wrote and/or voted for the very legislation that created the problems. Yet seldom if never will you hear a one of them accept personal responsibility for these actions. They only assign blame to members of the other party and boldly brag about what they are now doing to solve our problems. Such a poor record and reputation more than justifies, even warrants, a very skeptical vigilance.

In the final analysis, Congress must design the health care program. If it is not passed or turns out to be another disaster it will be Congress who failed, not a particular party. Let our leaders beware, the American people are growing very tired of the blame game.

What would be the result if we stopped partisan voting and started voting for the U.S. Constitution? Nowhere does the Constitution call for the existence of political parties; it does create Congress and specifies its responsibilities. We would judge the entire government by their performance against their constitutional responsibilities, not by who plays the most impressive blame game. If Congress fails, we vote incumbents out of office. If new representatives fail, then we vote them out. In essence we would stop returning any person from a failed Congress to office.

Ben Justus

Gardnerville