Welcome back to the nation’s capital, members of Congress. Your ears may still be ringing from those raucous town hall forums. Considering the intensity of views expressed during many of those gatherings, it is probably important that you demonstrate that you were listening to your constituents during those recess gatherings and not just going through the motions of “constituent service.” Forthwith, we offer some suggestions of how you can do that.
First, and probably most importantly, go back to square one on health care reform. No matter what the president says in his speech Wednesday, it won’t change the fact most Americans would rather you do nothing than impose a government-run health care program on them. This is because the vast majority of people are satisfied with their private insurance coverage. They want no part of the long lines to see doctors and get treatments that are common in Canada, Great Britain and other countries that have government-run health care systems. And don’t even think about pulling a fast one like changing a few words here and there on one of the several legislative versions of Obamacare, then trying to pass it off as new. The people are on to that stuff because, unlike most of you, many of them are reading the bills now.
Second, if you do ultimately approve a reform, make certain to apply it to yourselves. And if you don’t pass a reform this year, cancel the tax-paid health care plan you presently have, along with the special congressional perks that come with it, and pay the full freight out of your own pockets for a Blue Cross Standard family policy or the equivalent. No more exempting yourselves from laws you impose on the rest of us. You serve the people, not the other way around.
Finally, tell Charlie Rangel he’s no longer chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. He is an embarrassment to the nation and should no longer be seated in the House of Representatives. (Yes, the House can refuse to seat anybody, even decorated Korean War veterans.) You should then appoint a special congressional investigative committee to get the truth about his failure to pay taxes and report millions of dollars of income and assets. And change those ridiculous financial disclosure reports that let you give a “range” of values for your income and assets instead of the exact amount. Doing these things now just might enable you to keep your jobs next year.
