Congress takes care of itself first

Congress takes care of itself first

I’m constantly surprised and saddened at how the members of Congress act like children who take their ball and go home when they don’t get their own way. If our children acted this way they’d be sent to their rooms until they learned to behave properly. Instead, the American people are held hostage as they throw their tantrums and refuse to put the majority of the people they are serving first. A perfect point of this happening is the extension on unemployment benefits, which will be cut unless the Republicans in office get their way in rewarding the rich with tax cuts.

They state there is no money to pay unemployment, so where does the money come from to give tax cuts for the rich?

My question is when will Americans realize that we should be in control of Congress? They work for us not the other way around. They hold their jobs because we vote them in office to do what the majority of the people in their state or district wants done. Once they are there they should no longer be Republican, Democrat, Independent, or Tea Party members, but senators or representatives of the people, for the people.

And what about health care for everyone? Why is it that Congress has the best coverage and the average American is lucky if he/she has any coverage at all?

Pensions are another thing. More and more companies are not providing pensions to their employees. Instead they offer something like a 401K plan where the employee pays in money to save for retirement and if they are lucky their employer might put a matching amount.

Congress has a better pension plan than private business and great health care for themselves, their spouses, and children. It’s also nice if you can vote in a raise for yourself as they do.

I say it’s past time we make the members of Congress realize they work for us, the American people, and not to line their pockets so they are rich when they leave Congress or go to work as a lobbyist..

Let’s hold the members of Congress responsible for their actions while in office.

Darlene Torday, Berlin Center