Congress: Static and Immoble

The American political system is contingent upon having a multitude of parties, in our case two political parties, rubbing up against each other, and each branch checking one another. This is a necessary part of the checks and balances system crafted over three hundred years ago. Yet, our current system finds itself in jeopardy.

In 2006, democrats won control of congress. They pledged to end the War in Iraq, bring what they claim as respectability and integrity back to congress. What have they accomplished?

Nothing. They have not gotten bills passed ranging from war spending to energy to healthcare. They have not stood up to President Bush. Worse off, they have lost the respect of the American people. The latest polls put Congressional job approval as high as 32%, and as low as 21%.

I am not advocating a position on what the democrats believe, rather I am critiquing there inability to stand up for what they believe in. If your going to put up a fight, you better use every resource at your disposal to win that fight. If it means not coming to a compromise because your demands are not being met, then follow through. At the very least, the Republicans are unified in standing up for what they believe in.

A recent New York Times article, entitled G.O.P. Flexes Their Muscle in The Senate, illustrates the Democrats inability to get bills past, and the G.O.P. strength in sticking to their guns. The most recent democratic effort to reduce a war spending bill has failed. The republicans are offering a 70 billion dollar spending bill for the war in Iraq, which will probably get passed given the recent trends in congress. This has chilling implications for the state of checks and balances.

The Democrats must put up a stronger fight in order to preserve the very little balance that exists in this system. They must do what ever it takes, even if it means getting even less bills passed. On the same token, the Republicans must continue to fight for what they believe in. It is through these battles that compromises are reached, and the interests of the American people are fully represented.