Thwarting governance

I have to agree with this sentiment I read online earlier today: exactly how will the Democrats pin shutting down the Federal government on the Republicans... especially after leaving their posts in the Wisconsin legislature?

The two situations have this in common: in both, the Democrats are manuvering to thwart the direction voters selected in the last election. For Wisconsin, there's clearly a mandate for getting the State's financial house in order. Rather than lose a vote, though, the Democrats chose to "take their paper dolls and leave," as my grandmother would have put it. So much for representing the "will of the people."

Meanwhile, in D.C. the Republicans are trumpeting their attempt to shave about $100 billion off the gargantuan 2011 spending bill (which, nearly halfway into the fiscal year, still... isn't... done...). To be sure, this is not nearly enough -- but it's more trimming than the other side of the aisle will tolerate. So while the House can pass the bill (thanks to the influx of Republicans from the last election), the Senate will likely stall. And then try to blame the Republicans for 'shutting down government.'

So here we are. In Wisconsin, the kids are out of school for a fourth straight day as their (allegedly sick) teachers protest on behalf of their unions, with the support of President Obama's political organizing group and a handful of doctors willing to hand out 'sick slips' to cover their tracks. Meanwhile, Congress can't seem to accomplish its primary Constitutional function: a fiscal spending plan.

Who needs these people? In Wisconsin, they should close the public schools and issue vouchers. Oh, and zero out the salary and operating budgets for the offices of all missing legislators. Don't want to do your job? Fine... you're fired.

Same with D.C. Not a single Congressman should be drawing a penny of salary until the budget is in place. And none of them should be permitted to leave town for any other business, either.

I hate to say it, but I almost hope the machinery of government DOES start to seize up at the State and Federal levels. It might just be the wakeup call people need to realize that if left alone, most of us can fend for ourselves quite nicely, thank you very much.

Besides, if I want to pay for a circus, Barnum and Bailey costs a lot less, and is more fun.