A few days ago America experienced another tragic and heart breaking event. Jared Loughner, a very sick human being shot Representative Gabrielle Giffords in the head and at the same time shot several others in a shooting spree in Arizona. Several of the victims died and many were seriously wounded. In the group of dead was a little 9 year old girl trying to experience firsthand our politics and our democracy at work. This was a reprehensible act that should bring out the best in those of us lucky enough to have been absent from this madman’s shooting spree. It didn’t seem to do that.
Now we will get to watch our incredibly efficient justice system spring into action and if all goes according to our current justice standards Jared Loughner may be tried and possibly convicted of this heinous crime several years from now. (unless he gets off after years of court activity and millions of dollars on some technicality or simply because he had a rough childhood).
Our Congress and President promptly beat their chests and poured out more platitudes for a short time, and then Congress promptly took a week off to mourn and show their respect for Rep. Giffords.
They also immediately began to talk about their personal safety and the safety of all of their associates and they pissed and moaned about the vitriolic actions of the people in our current political system. They failed to note however that most of them have been the people who gave birth to the nastiness in this country and in our political process. Who in the world could possibly believe that Nancy Pelosi hasn’t been the Godmother or vitriole?
Now I understand that all politicians need vacations in order to re-charge their batteries after they work their fingers to the bone during so much of the year (actually I wonder how many vacation days each and every one of them takes during the year? I actually wonder why Rep. Giffords was in Arizona when the 112th congress had just convened).
We must also remember that these are the people who send thousands of our young men into harms way and think very little of it, although they beat their chests and pontificate about how sad it makes them feel to send our young men off to a war in a faraway place.
Nearly every day one of more of these brave young men is killed by other MAD MEN and guess what, their comrades don’t get a week off to mourn their friends and comrades in arms, they have to go right back into the battle. So I propose a few solutions for our Congress.
If after the killing of Rep. Giffords any congressman or Senator has become fearful for his or her personal safety then Americans will understand and forgive you if you submit your resignations and go home where you belong. If you like your job and want to continue to represent We the People then “suck it up and man up” and get back to work doing the People’s business. Try and be as brave and hard working as our American warriors.
You could also consideer passing a law that every time one of our brave warriors is killed in action that all other brave warriors doing their duty will get a week off to mourn and consideration should be given to getting each one of them personal bodyguards as has been discussed in our hallowed halls for those representing We the People.
Political Musings-At the Sunset of My Life 