Issue date: 2/24/09 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Osazuwa Okundaye [Click to enlarge]

Congress is busy. It is the highest, most prestigious legislative body in the nation, and it is working on the most important issues the entire time it's in session. At least, that's what most people think.

In reality, Congress is wasting ridiculous amounts of time and taxpayer money. For example, let's look at a few items the 111th Congress (now in session) voted on in one week of February.

House Resolution 139 - A motion to "Suspend the Rules and Agree, Commemorating the Life and Legacy of President Abraham Lincoln on the Bicentennial of His Birth." Passed 403-0.

House Resolution 117 - A motion to "Suspend the Rules and Agree, Supporting the Goals and Ideals of National Engineers Week." Passed 422-0.

The first question that probably comes to mind is, "Are you serious?"

Unfortunately, I am. These are all real votes from the U.S. House of Representatives, as cited by The Washington Post.

While the federal government is undertaking the largest ever giveaway of tax dollars whilst itself borrowing at an alarming rate, Congress has time to make sure you remember Lincoln on his birthday.

American servicemen are dying in the Middle East and the president is trying to find a way to end a war, but Congress has time to say Engineer's Week is a good thing.

What happened here? After the preamble, the first pages of the U.S. Constitution establish the U.S. Congress, a pretty big hint that the Founding Fathers thought it was important. They probably couldn't fathom the idea of the legislative body they created making a mockery of itself.

The men and women Americans voted into office couldn't be more irresponsible in the positions they hold. American citizens elected them to pass laws and debate real issues on Capitol Hill, not propose and unanimously approve meaningless resolutions.

The U.S. is facing tough times and frankly, no one seems to have the right answer. The best way to find one is Congressional debate. When both sides present evidence and solutions, problems are solved. This is what Congress ought to be doing with its time.

Especially now, citizens need to demand better of their Congressional representatives. At election time, there is plenty of talk about how horrible the competition is and even some based on real issues, but none of it mentions the countless hours spent voting on nonsense. That ought to change. When we vote for the next slew of eager candidates, Americans should get a campaign promise to cut the Congressional crap.

That is, unless you care about the insignificant votes Congress takes so much care to decide on. If so, before the next election, see how your Congressman voted on House Resolution 154, a motion to "Suspend the Rules and Agree, Honoring John D. Dingell for Holding the Record As the Longest Serving Member of the House of Representatives" (and therefore the most trivial votes cast in a lifetime).

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