Despite the fact that the newest Gallup poll released this past June 16 reports congressional approval rating at an all-time low of 16% while residing at the threshold of midterm elections, House congressional Republicans lead by Speaker John Boehner feel they enjoy enough job security to file a lawsuit against our president, whose current approval rating is substantially higher than theirs at 41% to date. It’s hard not to write a decidedly partisan opinion on this when out of the 230 Republican members of congress, only five voted against – they were GOP members Paul Broun of Maryland, Scott Garrett of New Jersey, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Steve Stockman of Texas and Walter Jones of North Carolina – not a single Democrat voted in favor of the resolution.

With Congress poised to take the entire month of August off for holiday, Democrats lined up on their side of the chamber and one after another requested GOP leaders allow votes on measures designed to raise minimum wage, extend jobless benefits and ensure pay equity, but the Republican leadership exhibited signs of tunnel vision as evidenced by the fact their focus remained steadfast and immovable on the lawsuit, versus other pending legislation. Many in and around government speculate that this is just the first step in a GOP effort designed to eventually impeach President Obama, despite the fact that 57% of Americans polled oppose the lawsuit, and that number jumps as high as two-thirds when asked if he should be impeached.

Just this past week Sarah Palin wrote an Op-Ed piece for Breitbart siting the fact that one out of three Americans favor impeachment; however, did Ms. Palin bother to ask the other two out of three who opposed such an extreme measure what they thought? I think not. She goes on to state, “Without borders, there is no nation.” But does Sarah Palin suggest our borders have somehow been moved or changed? Illegal immigration – with respect to the border we share with Mexico – is a complex issue that has gone on for decades now and simply cannot be fixed overnight. This is nothing new, but attempt to effectively address illegal immigration have to begin somewhere.

somewhere.

What is new are the sudden influx minor children seeking asylum once they cross those same borders. I for one applaud our President’s efforts to show compassion to those who are simply seeking a better life. After all, isn’t that what we all want for of our children? I suggest Ms. Palin is just trying to remain relevant by picking one of the many hot button, controversial issues out of the Tea Party’s current bag of tricks intended to incite a riot and then use it to try and remain relevant in terms of the national scene, but I’m afraid she lost her relevance in a failed bid for the White House, trumped by her subsequent resignation as Alaska’s governor.

I can’t help but think these last ditch efforts to sway public opinion on the advent of midterm elections is going to be a colossal failure. People in general – regardless of political persuasion – are tired of a political machine that is so dysfunctional, it appears to be irrevocably broken. Those of us who still bother to vote elect our leaders to govern and not make excuses for their inability to get something done.

Politicians who manage to win their bid all the way to the hallowed halls of national government enjoy privileges and benefits most Americans cannot even fathom. For instance their current salary is a staggering $ 174,000 (Speaker Boehner’s pay rate is $223,500) but that’s just the tip of the iceberg …. under the Civil Service Retirement System they are entitled to a lifetime pension – even if they only serve one term – free healthcare, an annual allowance intended to defray costs of performing their congressional duties, and many retain their private sources of income while still serving, but perhaps the reason why all of them eventually leave office as millionaires is that although they are privy to extensive inside information, they are not bound by the same SEC regulations as the rest of the country. Therefore they can buy and sell stocks based upon inside knowledge and not be held accountable. Is it any wonder why they spend so much money to secure a spot in such a coveted position? Even a junior congressman or woman doesn’t take too long discovering the address of his or her new office is located somewhere on Easy Street.

But while the SEC doesn’t hold these officials accountable, we the American voting public still can. I’m not here to extol the virtues of one party over another. I’ve said it many times …. I believe strongly in a two-party system, and when you consider the growing number of registered Independents, we are fast becoming a three-party system, but what I am absolutely fed up with is a system that fails to work. Those of us who continue to hold down jobs – even at a high level – are expected to perform or risk losing our position to another. I don’t think our congressional leaders should be any different. With so much privilege already at their disposal, why should we citizens continue to turn a blind eye to their continued refusal to reach across aisles in order to foster the kind of change in this country that would prove meaningful to the numbers of Americans who braved long lines and changing voter regulations to give them their vote?

This November a number of those congressional seats will be up for grabs. I suggest rather than cast your vote for an incumbent just because of name recognition – or even party affiliation – that you take a look at their record measured against the promises her or she made during the last election, as well as what they propose to do going forward, and then compare that to their opponent’s proposed measures and then vote for the person who you honestly feel will strive to serve your interests instead of his or her own.

If you are not satisfied with the state of our union, then perhaps it’s time to change the current leadership, and I don’t mean starting with the President. That election won’t happen for two more years. I must ask at this point, “Can you really be comfortable just bidding your time until then?” If not then give these midterms the same degree of attention you would in choosing a president, and remember if you change Washington, you can change the nation.