Who Knows Their Civics Lessons?

Sometimes I am convinced that things that ought to scare us, don’t. It may be because we just don’t know how things work, or we are not paying attention, or worst of all, we just don’t care.

However one may think and feel about the ongoing health care legislation issues winding through Congress and the White House, I am convinced the following excerpt from an Associated Press story by Ericia Werner should make us all stop and think again about how our Government works.

Some of the top targets may be the nine lawmakers who told The Associated Press directly or through spokesmen that they’re undecided or undeclared. Three are retiring and don’t have to worry about getting punished by voters, and five others are freshmen, mostly in competitive districts — lawmakers whom Pelosi will give a pass on tough votes when she can, but might call on when a major piece of legislation hangs in the balance.

Here’s my cynical view. Why would any Congress person worry about “getting punished by voters” if they are representing the views of the people who elected them? Isn’t that their job? Aren’t they suppose to vote in a manner that reflects the constituency that elected them? And, what is this business about Speaker Pelosi “giving a pass on tough votes” to new members of Congress? If they can’t figure out how to vote on “tough issues” they shouldn’t be there in the first place and ought to feel the “punishment” of their constituency. The fact that there is “arm twisting,” “favorable Committee appointments” and “Presidential support” based on “correct voting” according to the Congressional leadership, ought to make us (read U. S. citizen voters) sick at heart.

Aren’t you glad God did not leave the operation of His Church to us? It would take us about a week to get it so messed up it would look more like Congress than His family. The reality that we have His revealed Word and that His Spirit leads, directs, enlightens, illuminates, guards, guides, and empowers is comforting in a World gone wrong.