Who's Doing The People's Work?

In a lot of respects, the people are. We're not getting straight answers from either side of the aisle on health care reform. Oops! It's now being termed "insurance reform" which is closer to what it should be.

I'm willing to wager a lot of folks turning up at the town hall meetings have done what Hub has done. Down loaded the bill and read it. Especially those in our age group. We're the ones targeted by most of the scare tactics. And a lot of the truths being obscured.

That being said, I was surprised to see how many lawmakers are off on junkets. Maybe they feel it's safe haven. If no one can question them, they don't have to answer.

I would think the health care issue is of enough importance they could have postponed many of these trips. After all, it's their constituency asking the questions and for everyone off on a junket, there are entire districts without a source of information which can be held accountable.

Who are some of these lawmakers and where are they? According to The Wall Street Journal they're off to Europe with their wife or island hopping around the Pacific. Why? Well, the dozen that are on a 10 day trip in the Pacific are supposedly studying how immigration laws are applied in the Marianas, a U.S. territory. I don't know. I'd be inclined to pick up the phone and ask.

They are also slated to visit Samoa, Hawaii, Guam and Palau. No doubt to see if it's a suitable place to park the Uighurs still in Guantanamo. I especially like Representative Ellison Twittering his way around Africa bemoaning the fact he caught the sniffles while studying gender based violence in Kenya. Gender based violence in Kenya?

According to the 2000 census, Ellison's district had a population of 614,935. In the 2008 Congressional elections 322,081 people voted. That's a fair chunk of people not having a town meeting during this Congressional recess. Multiply that by the district populations of the others and you're getting into real numbers.

The idea that people have gotten engaged is wonderful. That it has gotten unruly is not unexpected considering the vagueness of what's being proposed paired with the fact it affects all of us.

I give a big thumbs up to those who stayed home to face their constituents. After watching Senator Claire McCaskill, D-MO, stand her ground I've gained a lot or respect for her. Her answers did not satisfy many and that in of itself is the message.

Sort it out and get it right before passing it into law. I guess the Democrats on those junkets are so sure of their majority that they feel no need to subject themselves to their constituents.

They best enjoy their tax payer funded escapades. If bad legislation is what passes they may find a "staycation" might have been the better choice.

There Are Times When NIMBY Makes Sense

Republicans and Democrats working together to keep the administration in line is something out of the ordinary but it has actually happened!

Yesterday the Senate cut $80 million slated to be used for closing Guantanamo Bay. Now if only the media quits over reacting by insisting it's a huge setback for Obama, things will be fine. Yes. He pledged to close the prison. There's just one little detail he has overlooked and that's what to do with the prisoners.

Their own countries don't want them nor does anyone else. Including us! I can't say that I think it's a great idea to house these people on our soil. It's too much of a reminder of the injustices they've suffered under international law, like not ever being charged, that could cause resentment to bubble over. Should revenge be sought having those prisoners in the U.S. might not bode well!

That of course is the reason for closing the prison - those injustices. There comes a time, however, when symbolism isn't always the best avenue. The prison itself is functional. No one has ever escaped.

Maybe keeping the prison open and extending the prisoners their rights would be just as effective as trying to relocate everyone. How often are prisons closed because of unpleasant happenings within? Change the behavior!

Regardless of the solution decided upon, I applaud the Senate for denying funds for a proposed action without a plan. Bailing out car companies and making up the rules as you go along is one thing. Making up the rules as you go along for dealing with alleged terrorists just to change a perception is something entirely different.

I go back to raising that cautionary hand of mine. It's better to proceed after things are thought through. Victories are empty when more harm than good is done!