I've been talking for a few months about the dismal failures of both parties in Congress to even attempt to live up to the promises on which they campaigned. The GOP was rejected in 2006 largely because of this - they took the majority as the party of openness, small-government and competence, and squandered twelve years with pork, corruption, and massive expansions of the Federal bureaucracy.
Now, the Democrats are in power, and have been for almost six full months, yet they have only one meager accomplishment (a minimum wage hike) to show for it. They failed to deliver on their promises to end the War in Iraq, disappointing much of their base. And the Democrats, unable to learn from Republican stupidity, are already ignoring the promises they made just a few months ago about pork and earmark reform. Toss in an immigration boondoggle that everyone in DC loves but everyone else in America hates, and it's a poisonous brew.
Now we're getting a series of stories discussing how disappointing the Democrats have been, and how disappointed they are, with lots of bad poll numbers and finger-pointing and angst from everyone in the process. The numbers for the President are in the same ballpark, with much of the same reaction. But buried way down at the bottom of this article echoing that theme is this gem from Illinois' own Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Peoria):
Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) said he believes that voters are just plain mad -- about high gasoline prices, the lack of border security and the Iraq war.
"I don't know if it would be different if we were in the majority," LaHood said. "We didn't deal with immigration reform, we've continued to go along with what the president wanted on the Iraq war, which is what the Democratic majority has had to do, and when we were in the majority we didn't bring down gasoline prices.
"I think the American public is mad at all of us," said LaHood, "Republicans and Democrats."
Gee, you think? I can't remember a time when I felt that our political elites - both Democrats and Republicans - were so completely out-of-touch or completely willing to ignore the national mood. Yet here we are.
At least Rep. LaHood is voicing it. Why isn't anyone else in DC realizing this, and acting on it?
It is not the job of Congress to "bring down gasoline prices". The attitude that every pain Americans feel can and should be eased by Congress is one of the biggest problems this country faces.
Granted, they failed to get the votes to drill in ANWR - that wouldn't have hurt.
Heck, their biggest effort in this arena has been to provide subsidies for ethanol, to the great benefit of farmers and ADM, then mandate its usage, which has actually driven up the prices of the fuel we buy. And then they have not dropped restrictions on imported ethanol, which would be an obvious step if they actually did care about bringing down fuel prices.
Perception is reality. In some regards, it doesn't matter what Congress' job really is... it matters what people think it is.
To be fair and to return to a conservative idea, let's also not deceive ourself to think Congress has nothing to do with high gas prices. We don't have enough refineries, we won't drill for our own oil... not only do we import oil, we have to import **gasoline**... and for that matter like 20 different versions of it to meet all the local regulations as well. That says nothing of the taxes. Certainly we could do more with oil prices with diplomacy as well since international trade is very clearly in the scope of the federal government.
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j
Part-Time Pundit
the improvements that Congress could offer would be to roll back or eliminate prior regulations they put in place to save us from the last problem they had to solve
If they really want to help, Congress would put a $1.00 a gallon tax on and let each of the State add another couple of dollars to send a Wake Up call to the American people to stop wasting this finite resource.
"Why isn't anyone else in DC realizing this, and acting on it?"
Who cares? The real question is why do the voters keep electing corrupt and incompetent Dems and Repubs?
Gas prices are but an illustrative symptom of the disconnect between our political ruling class and average Americans.
The larger point is that the disconnect exists, and that it's a remarkable anomaly that one Congressman recognizes it.
OK that is 1 out of the 100's who, and I use the term lightly, represent us. Any chance LaHood understanding will catch on before he is voted out of office or banned from committee work by the 'elite'?
Any chance LaHood "getting it" will actually translate into any sort of action by anybody, or is it just platitudes?
let's see how he votes on the farm bill
Yes, let's just raise the cost of gas... that's brilliant... and we can price even more poor people out of owning vehicles, out of heating their homes, and out of good jobs. Brilliant!
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j
Part-Time Pundit
The reason the Dems haven't been called on their failure to live up to their campaign promises is that EVERYONE KNEW they were lying. When the GOP failed to live up to the Contract With America, some people (myself included) were actually a little surprised...
"At least Rep. LaHood is voicing it. Why isn't anyone else in DC realizing this, and acting on it?"
Maybe LaHood plans to retire upon being named president of Bradley University?
So when the Dems do not live up to their campaign promises they are lying but when the Reps do the same thing it is a surprise. WOW I'll bet you really miss the single political party lever.
Yes, my Congressman is a good leader - principled, and admired by GOP moderates and conservatives alike. Perhaps Ray will be running for Governor (or another office), in the future?
"Yes, my Congressman is a good leader - principled, and admired by GOP moderates and conservatives alike. Perhaps Ray will be running for Governor (or another office), in the future?"
I think it's more likely he'll be retiring from politics to serve as President of Bradley University.
Aakash!
Good Leader?!! Another hack from the Public Ed cesspool is my read, but you may know more than I do.
What (FOR GOD's SAKE WHAT!!???) gives Americans the ABSURD notion that they alone have a GOD GIVEN right to cheap electricity and cheap gas. I get a kick out of a bunch of angry PWP (peasants with pitchforks) crowing about freedom and free enterprise as they lap up the gibberish of congressmen who talk about Congress being responsible for giving them energy at below the market rate.
This is not a defense of BIG OIL. I'm sure they are playing a game or two with the EPA regulations, Refinery shortages, and other market anomolies created by Congress (which LaHood was part of) Nor do I support the games played by Com Ed and Ameren, as they too profit from the insanity of our leaders.
Consumers should pay the market price for energy, and the market should be left as free as possible. If we want Green more than Cheap, then by all means, enact it, but don't hype the impossible. Chinese and Indian Growth alone will drive energy through the roof. Why is this so hard to say to the body politic.
They've been lied to so long they've come to believe the lies.
Don't like high gas prices, get a Prius or a bike and sell the "Comanchero" (see Simpsons) Don't like the expensive electricity? Then don't expect every appliance to fire up the second you need your Jones aleviated (did you know that all those "instant On" TVs and all those LEDs on all those appliances across America add up to real Kilo wattage?
A "leader" would tell people the truth. Don't like high prices? find an alternative. Don't like you elected leaders? look in the mirror.