Zika Virus - US Congress must fund prevention progress

Sadly, the the Zika virus is spreading while the US Congress has obstructed additional funding to support progress for fighting this mosquito carried infection.  

Check out this "Mosquito Squad" newsletter at this link for current information about the Zika virus.

Now the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention is releasing the Zika data:

Infection Control & Clinical Quality- a newsletter report

2 more US infants born with Zika-related birth defects; 1,000+ pregnant women infected
Written by Heather Punke November 04, 2016 

Twenty-five babies in the U.S. were born with Zika-related birth defects, according to the CDC's most recent update, up from 23 the week prior.

The U.S. will likely encounter more Zika-affected babies in the weeks to come, as 1,005 pregnant women have lab evidence of possible Zika virus infection, the CDC reported this week, up from 953 in the update prior.

Zika can cause microcephaly and several other developmental problems in babies born to women infected with the virus while pregnant.

Microcephaly is a birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age. 

Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that might not have developed properly.

Some hospitals are preparing to respond to this onslaught of babies who will need support — in Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital and the University of Miami launched a Zika response unit with pediatricians, infectious disease specialists and other experts to monitor babies affected by Zika as they age.

There are 4,128 Zika infections total in the U.S. states, 139 of which were acquired locally by mosquitoes in Florida, the only state with active Zika transmission via the insects. Thirty-four of the cases were sexually transmitted.

In fact, the CDC announced the availability of $70 million in additional monies for states, cities and territories to support efforts to protect Americans from Zika.

The funds are being distributed to applicants through the CDC's Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases Cooperative Agreement. 

Funding disbursement will be determined based on factors such as Zika disease burden, local Zika virus transmission and the presence of Aedes mosquitoes that carry the virus.

"The funding ... will further support activities to protect the health of Americans, especially pregnant women, including epidemiologic surveillance and investigation, improving mosquito control and monitoring, and strengthening laboratory capacity. Funding also will support participation in the U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry to monitor pregnant women with Zika and their infants," said the CDC in a release.

Unfortunately, in my opinion, this request for proposal funding (RFP) is too bureaucratic to meet the urgent need. Congress must do more to fund Zika prevention and this means making money available, without putting bureaucratic and competitive processes in place prior to approving funding requirements. Hiring more monitors, like public health surveyors, would be a good first step. This could be a person with the qualifications to educate communities at risk as well as to identify where help is urgently needed. Additionally, all pharmaceutical companies should provide pregnant women with free mosquito prevention information packets and protective insect repellents. Although these are small steps, they will build awareness by applying diligent surveillance to at risk populations. Moreover, offering free prevention tools are not expensive. Indeed, preventing even one Zika infection will have the effect of potentially benefiting an entire family, for generations.  

Our US Congress must respond with funding to prevent Zika infections,before even more innocent babies are born with virus related anomalies.

Crises in Europe - international intelligence possibly caught off guard

Another international crises with a coup d'etat in Turkey today, on Friday  This follows the horrible news about a terrorist attack in Niece France where, tragically, at lest 84 innocent poeple were killed by a truck loaded with explosives on Bastille Day, when families were celebrating the holiday.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey now victim of a military coup d'etat

Of course, many unknown facts remain to be revealed about both incidents, the fact is, these breakdowns in French and Turkish security, are troublesome because international intelligence is obviously unable to keep up with the changing world order.

In my opinion, the root cause of these intelligence failures must have something to do with our international inability to fund cohesive and coordinated intelligence operations. Obviously communicatons channelsbetween intelligence communities are non-existant or there would be some kind of response to these tragedies other than words of condolence.

Perhaps funding for intelligence operations like the Central Intelligence Agency are problematic especially because the US Congress will not relieve the impact of the stupid budget sequester.

Likewise, while the US is deeply engaged in war, ever since the illegal 2003 invasion of Iraq and the failed Operation Iraqi Freedom, the US Congess has never declared war.  In fact, if Congress did the right thing, the war would be declared and funding for the military with intelligence operations would have to be funded. Of course, this means increases in taxes and lifting the budget sequester.

Turkey's crises is now "America's crises" because so much of our nation's offensive against terrorism in Syria and the war in Iraq depends on base operations in Turkey.

"So, now what?"  So many unknowns.

Obviously, joining the uninformed and lacking facts, my hope is for the US Congress to support our international intelligence community and the American military, to affirm that our political and anti-terrorist efforts are supported around the world.

It's urgent for our international intelligence communities to remain viligent and to communicate responsibly. They must respond cohesively to growing instability and terrorism with the funding needed to do their essential jobs.

America at war with evil ISIS and terrorim - President Obamam to speak to nation

President Obama will address the nation about San Bernadino attack and ISIS

President Obama will speak to the nation from the Oval Office on Sunday December 6, 2015 at 8 PM about the San Bernadino attack and our nation's defense against terrorism. 

Hopefully, the US Congress will be tuned in and support our nation to defeat ISIS. In other words, the Congress must vote to declare war and they must pay for it.

WASHINGTON, Dec 5 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will address the nation on Sunday evening to give an update on the investigation into the San Bernardino shooting that killed 14 and to discuss terrorism, the White House said on Saturday.

The president will talk about the "broader threat of terrorism, including the nature of the threat, how it has evolved, and how we will defeat it," the White House said in a statement.

This will be the third televised Oval Office address of Obama's presidency, and his first in more than five years. The White House's Office of the Press Secretary released the following statement: On Sunday, December 6th at 8:00PM EST, President Obama will address the nation from the Oval Office about the steps our government is taking to fulfill his highest priority: keeping the American people safe. The President will provide an update on the ongoing investigation into the tragic attack in San Bernardino. The President will also discuss the broader threat of terrorism, including the nature of the threat, how it has evolved, and how we will defeat it. He will reiterate his firm conviction that ISIL will be destroyed and that the United States must draw upon our values – our unwavering commitment to justice, equality and freedom – to prevail over terrorist groups that use violence to advance a destructive ideology.

Social Security beneficiaries need a defense budget

Americans are subjected to daily news about how our US military are fighting Middle Eastern terrorists, using many millions or billions of dollars of super-duper techologies. Meanwhile, the US Congress spent eleven hours of taxpayer paid time on October 21, 2015, drilling Secretary Hillary Clinton about a tragic September 11, 2012 murder of Ambassador Stevens and three other Americans, in Benghazi, Libya. 

Yet, the Social Security cost of living allowance in 2016 is zero.

Millions and probably billions of dollars are spent on defense technologies and useless Congresional probings (like the Benghazi inquisitions), while our American Social Security beneficiaries and military retirees are told the low inflation market basket doesn't justify a 2016, paltry cost of living raise. In the past, this cost of living raise has been decreasing to about 1-2 percent.

Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks about how millionaries, and billionaries are taking money away from the American worker and padding their own greedy pockets.  

Much of the moneies the millionaires and billionaries earn are received through multi million dollar defense contracts awarded to their friends. 

In fact, the millionaires and billionairs are benefiting from the American tax money spent on building strategic equipment for the American military. The military seldom accounts for how the tax money received is actually spent. Maybe, Social Security beneficiaries should sign up to serve in the US Military.  

Of course, many US military veterans receive retirement income as compensation for the years they gave, in their youth, when they defended their nation, while on active duty. Military retirees will not receive a cost of living adjustment in 2016, either, because the US Congress felt the inflation index didn't justify a raise.  

In my opnion, many US miltiary retirees would gladly volunteer to defend our nation again, if asked. Maybe, in so doing, their earned retirement income would justify exemption from Congressional cost of living oversight. In other words, US military retirees would give their lives again for our nation. They deserve a cost of living raise today.

Our nation's Republican driven US Congress talks vehemently about cutting taxes. But, in so doing, the politicians are putting at risk the safety net programs, relied upon by hard working people, to pay for their cruel austerity. Nevertheless, the military budget hardly receives any scrutiny. Moreover, only a few who serve in the US Congress have ever even served in the American military.  

It's time the US Congress puts aside the money needed for a cost of living increase for Social Security beneficiaries and military retirees. These hard working beneficiaries and military retirees have earned their benefits.  On the other hand, the US Congress that decides about authorizing the cost of living raises have only earned scorn for their inability to accomplish anything to help average American citizens. Still, there's a chance to help Social Security beneficiaries and military retirees with a COLA, but the Republcian Congress is planning, instead, how to shut down the American government. It's time Social Security beneficiaries and military retirees take action against the wrong minded decision about no 2016 cost of living increases. 

If the Congress doesn't think these hard working beneficiars earned their cost of living increases, maybe they can ask us where can we sign up to serve in the US military? There's no problem with their budgets. Retirees need a defense budget!

Call the American Associaiton of Retired Persons (AARP) - 1 (888) 687-2277, to insist they use their influence on Congress.

Likewise, let's call our US Senators and Congress to demand the COLA!

Barbaric ISIS behavior finally brings American attention to the urgency of destroying Islamic extremists and support Syrian rebels

"...put lawmakers on the record for the first time approving U.S. engagement in the years-long Syrian civil war."

It's difficult to understand how Americans are only now responding to the barbaric beheading of innocent journalists and humanitarian workers, because those who were executed were captured because they were bringing awareness to Syrian refugees. These victims were trying to educate the world about Syrian humanitarian tragedies resulting from that nation's civil war. Nevertheless, finally, the US Congress is responding to the evil ISIS beheadings, but it took the disgustingly barbaric act of at least three executions before Americans united behind Congressional efforts to destroy the terrorists. President Assad put noxious gas on innocent civilians and children in Syria, but that didn't seem to rise to the level of responding to barbarism, as far as Congress and the American public was concerned. Moreover, Syrian Christians are being persecuted and religious shrines destroyed. Unfortunately, these heinous acts weren't enough, either. Instead, barbaric acts of beheading innocent people finally got Americans attention.

The House on Wednesday approved President Obama’s plan to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels, to counter the growing threat of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization, even though lawmakers in both parties remain deeply skeptical about its chances for success.

Congress put the US one step closer to authorizing the third prolonged U.S. military operation in Iraq, in the last quarter century, and delivered Obama's much-needed domestic political support, as he seeks an international coalition to combat the growing threat of Islamist terrorism in the Middle East. It also put lawmakers on the record for the first time approving U.S. engagement in the years-long Syrian civil war.

But the tally — 273 to 156 — also revealed widespread misgivings about the chances of success for the plan, even among many lawmakers who voted in favor of it.

Obama’s proposal was opposed by more than 40 percent of Democrats, many of whom are concerned that new U.S. military operations in the Middle East could fester for several years with no clear strategy or definition of success.

Republicans provided the lion’s share of support, but many are worried about the limits of Obama's early plans. One top GOP leader suggested Congress could go as far as giving the president blanket military authority, even if Obama doesn’t want it, when the lawmakers hold a much broader debate after the November elections about the fight against Islamic terrorists.

Obama on Wednesday repeated his promise not to send combat forces into the military campaign against the Islamic State, telling troops in a speech at MacDill Air Force Base outside Tampa that he will “not commit you fighting another ground war in Iraq.”

Mental Health programs should be funded by a tax on guns and ammunition

Let's face it, America has lost the war against guns (as well as drugs).

It's impossible to turn the tide on the zealous Second Amendment gun hoarding. Under the protection of this Constitutional Amendment, right wing nuts guard against enemy "windmills" they've created without cause. Nevertheless, it's time for those responsible for this over reach of Second Amendment rights to be held accountable for the damages and thousands of murders resulting from their zealotry.

Rather than face the source of the problem of gun violence, ie "guns", the Christian Science Monitor reports on how the US Congress prefers to address the problem of untreated mental illness, instead.

"Why Congress targets mental health, not gun control, after mass killings": The University of California Santa Barbara killings revived calls for more aggressive federal action on gun control. But in Congress, the emphasis is on mental-health fixes to stem violent attacks. Here's what the House is considering so far.

By Francine Kiefer, Staff writer / May 30, 2014

As mass killings such as the one in California (by Elliot Rodger) over the Memorial Day weekend mount up, the way to action in Congress is more likely to be through mental-health legislation than gun control.

The reason is simple, says Julian Zelizer, congressional historian at Princeton University in Princeton, N.J. “Mental health legislation is not blocked by a gun rights lobby.”

In the aftermath of the Isla Vista, Calif., shootings and stabbings by the deeply troubled Elliot Rodger, two draft mental-health bills are getting a fresh look in the House. On Friday, Rep. Mike Thompson (D) of California introduced a bill that marries mental health with preventing gun violence. In the Senate, meanwhile, one idea is to pull out the mental-health aspect from an expanded gun-background check bill that failed last year, and offer it as separate legislation.

For now, the action is in the House, with three bills that come at mental health and violence from different angles. These include:

Treating the severely mentally ill. Rep. Tim Murphy (R) of Pennsylvania, a clinical psychologist, has introduced a bill with a focus on people with serious mental illness. The bipartisan legislation, which has 86 cosponsors including 36 Democrats, would encourage states to revise standards to commit the severely mentally ill to hospitals – standards that would recognize need of treatment, not just imminent danger. The bill would also enable families and judges to intervene and to mandate therapy and medication, including outpatient treatment.

A broader approach. Rep. Ron Barber, a Democrat from Arizona who was injured in the 2011Tucson shooting that killed six people and injured former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D), takes a more sweeping approach. His bill would use federal dollars to improve general access to mental-health services by beefing up counseling, research, and education. “Investing in mental health services in our communities and early identification and prevention of mental illness will save both lives and money," Mr. Barber says in a statement. The bill, so far, has only Democratic sponsors.

Norman Ornstein, a political observer and resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, says emotional cries are again rising to challenge the powerful gun lobby, including the 5-million-member National Rifle Association. That notwithstanding, he says, “there are plenty of members of Congress who would rather do something in mental health than on guns.” Groups that may oppose mental-health legislation have "less traction" than the gun lobby, he adds.

Clearly, gun zealots and unrelenting Second Amendment protectionists are more interested in protecting their deadly weapons of murder than in supporting the treatment of those who are a danger to themselves or others.  

In my opinion, all those involved in obstructing the protection of the public from gun violence are complicit in the mass murders of innocent victims killed as a result.

As is the case with many reparations, those responsible for the crimes should also be held accountable to atone. This should mean taxing guns and ammunition, to the extent that the money is dedicated to improve access to care, treatment and support for the mentally ill.

Americans, apparently, can't be protected against preventable gun violence. It's an incurable and untreated public health danger. Nevertheless, we're surely capable of enforcing legislation to protect the mentally ill from experiencing, like Rodger, the worst of their untreated symptoms. A dedicated assessment on guns and ammunition is surely one way to pay for the badly needed mental health programs.

A two percent GOP margin in Florida's thirteenth district special election is putting lipstick on a pig

Only 2 percent margin separated the Democrats from an upset victory to win a Florida congressional seat during a special election held on Tuesday, to fill the seat vacated by deceased long time incumbent, the late Bill Young, in Florida's 13th Congressional District.

Although Republicans are boasting about the slim victory, the fact is, the race was close enough to swing the results the other way in the next regular election. In fact, first term Congressional members are two year wonders.With only a 2 percent margin, the next regular election could well see the Republican David Jolly looking for a job. 


Unfortunately, House Speaker John Boehner is quoted saying it's a "big win". Hello? What Boehner really meant to say is, it was an expensive $$ win. Republicans couldn't afford to loose this seat, so they spent huge sums of money to buy Young's position for their party.  Shame on Boehner for name calling the Democrats by saying the post election analysis would be like "putting lipstick on a pig". 

Boehner is showing hypocritical colors. He knows, it's the GOP that puts lipstick on a pig. They've bought and paid for his thirteenth district special election with pork money showered on them by corporations led by the richer than rich Koch Brothers. 

In other words, Republicans won the Florida special election because they outspent their Democratic opponent.  This unmitigated flow of political money is legal since the US Supreme Court in the "Citizens United" ruling allowed corporations to contribute money in decadent amounts, by considering their "free speech" rights to be the same as those of real people.

Regardless of how close Democrats came to winning the GOP seat held by the conservative party for 58 years, they came up just 2 percent short. 

It's essential for Democrats to do much better in November.

Just pointing fingers and calling those who capitalize on Citizens United a bunch of names isn't going to budge a concrete thinking Republican electorate. Tragically, the base of the GOP political party rejects facts about the science of climate change and women's reproductive physiology. These same narrow thinking people have no ethical compulsion to refuse the mother's milk money of rich political corporations, led by the Koch Brothers.

Democrats must run smarter campaigns. 

Americans seem to thrive on negative Republican campaign ads. Yet, Americans also want to see a clean environment, rather than a nation polluted by greed; women don't want to be told how to control their reproductive systems, just because Republicans think they should; and Medicare beneficiaries should never have to worry about buying their benefits with vouchers so Republicans can insure only the rich have health care coverage. Moreover, Americans don't want to be anti-immigration when our ancestors were, themselves, immigrants.

American has more problems than those the Republicans concoct, just to scare people. Our war on illegal drugs, for example, has been a complete failure. Our national defense has been eroded by decades of wars we've never won, because our military leaders are more politicians than they are strategists. Meanwhile, the Russians are now recreating the Cold War because President Putin simply wants to be the world's next Napoleanic delusional leader.

Democrats must do better in upcoming elections. Although it probably won't show up in election results, when it comes to putting "lipstick on a pig", John Boehner should cry in his 
favorite drink of the day before plagiarizing the ambitious Sarah Palin's inappropriate quote. It's undignified but typical of Boehner to use somebody else's quote rather than create something memorable.

What Boehner should say is "2 percent margins aren't good enough". Indeed, Democrats should be thinking and saying the very same thing. 

Ryan's Cuts: US Military Give Up their Youth and Lives - Promised Benefits Are Earned

US Military give up their youth with a promise of benefits to compensate them for this national sacrifice. These young people are now thanked for their service but promises made are recalled. How horrible! Shame on politicians who have never served in the military who allow these promised benefits to be cut while defense spending is still receiving benefit sequester relief.

Military retirees are outraged at Congress , calling the move  "an egregious breach of faith."

The Military Coalition, some 27 military groups, wrote to leaders in Congress and President Obama late Wednesday about their "strong objection" and "grave concern" over the budget deal.

Congressman Paul Ryan led this poor judgement budget deal.  Not being a psychic, I'm nevertheless seeing Congressman Ryan regret this cut to military retirement. He won't be US President. Remember when Congressman Ryan was washing clean dishes in a St. Vincent de Paul food kitchen, just for the PR camera?  Well, he'll be fodder again for every ad that posts pictures of homeless veterans harmed by Ryan's ill conceived retirement cut plan. Congressman Ryan should take a humility lesson from Pope Francis. Rather than cut military retirement to veterans, Ryan should've cut his own retirement, instead.

Cuts to military retirees could conceivably make sense if good jobs for veterans were assured, after they're discharged to civilian life. This is absolutely not the case. Instead, veterans are given a nice letter of thanks and a party. No job.

US military earn the benefits they're promised, when they meet the requirements for retirement. Many in our US Congress don't serve in the military. Shame on all of them for cutting the benefits for those who serve on behalf of all Americans.

Military retirees earn their promised benefits. They give up their youth to defend our nation. Moreover, it's wrong to cut military retirements when the transition to civilian life remains challenging. 

Rather than cut military retirement to create budget opportunities for other programs, the US Congress should, instead, consider taxing all people who don't serve in any capacity to defend our national security. This would include all those who vote on military pay and benefits but haven't served their country in uniform.

I'm not psychic, but throughout history, I know those who take advantage of veterans for the sake of saving money have lost their political clout. Republicans and Congressman Ryan must learn from history or they're, also, doomed to reap the consequences of cutting military benefits.

President Obama Must Act to Protect the American Economy

US Senate Democrats Propose to Vote to Allow President Obama to Raise Debt Ceiling

Let's hope the Newsmax report will be realized. Inaction on the US debt ceiling will be extremely damaging to our nation. In my opinion, President Obama can do no harm by taking administrative or executive action to move our nation beyond the preventable stalemate currently putting our nation into an economic limbo.  

Senate Democrats could introduce legislation as soon as today that gives President Barack Obama the authority to raise the debt ceiling unless two-thirds of Congress disapproves, according to a Senate Democratic aide.

An initial test vote on the proposal, described by the aide on condition of anonymity, could occur as soon as Oct. 11, just six days before federal borrowing authority is set to expire.
Democrats have been pressing for a one-year increase in the nation’s $16.7 trillion debt ceiling without any of the spending cuts of policy changes Republicans are demanding.

The method of giving Obama the authority to raise the debt ceiling barring a congressional disapproval was first proposed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, in 2011 and became part of the Budget Control Act passed in August of that year.

Republican extremists obstructing President Obama on every initiative need to recall their mother's proverb, "What goes around comes around". 

It makes virtually no sense for Republicans to continue holding America hostage to their extremist agenda by refusing to lift the budget sequester and repealing the #shutdown. 

Eventually, the political pendulum will ultimately swing to the equal and opposite direction and the obstructionist cycle will become self perpetrating.  

President Obama must take action to protect all future presidents from extremist agendas. He must act to protect the American economy by figuring out how to take charge of raising our nation's debt ceiling, in spite of the Congress. By taking decisive action, he will also protect future presidents from becoming victims of political hostage taking.  

Ten Percent Approval Rating - Congress Fails: What Business Would Hire This Group?

Businesses seeking to sell to a government agency must usually submit to a bidding process. In other words, if a company sells widgets (or paper clips) to a government organization, the proposal, prior to signing a deal, must go through a rigorous procurement review.  This often daunting process typically includes an open bidding procedure. A company might make the world's best widgets, but if the sales proposal, required to sell them to the government, can't survive the procurement and bidding, the product will be passed over for a competing bid.

So, here's the question. Would the US Congress survive a government procurement procedure?  Of course not. 

Congress recently received a 10 percent public approval rating. 

The Columbus Press reports:  WASHINGTON — The public’s scorn for a gridlocked Congress continues to grow, with a new Gallup poll showing confidence in the legislative body falling to 10 percent, the lowest level Gallup has ever found for any institution.

Congress’ 10 percent rating in the survey was 3 percentage points lower than in a similar Gallup survey of the public’s views of major institutions conducted at the same time last year.

At this low point, (a misnomer - it's really a high "disapproval" rating), it's time our nation seeks competing bids.  

In other words, let's vote politicians out of office when they bring down the respect for government.  We must especially un-elect the likes of Speaker John Boehner, who seem to take disdainful pride in bringing down our confidence in the Congress. 

Let's immediately elect (ie "hire") people who will respond to the will of the people.

Here are some suggestions to Congress, to help improve its approval rating, before it tanks to zero (statistically speaking, a 10 percent low is very close to zero, given there's typically a margin of error of 4-5 percent).

1.  Support tax reform whereby super rich millionaires and billionaires are required to share their wealth through equitable income redistribution - ie. pay their fair share of taxes.

2.  Pass compassionate and benevolent immigration reform including providing a path to citizenship for all law abiding immigrants.  Prohibit laws requiring immigrants to live as indentured servants.  

3.  Sustain social safety net programs, especially:

• Social Security - funded by employer and employee payroll taxes that are recovered by beneficiaries at a retirement age determined to be 62-66 or older.
• Medicare - health insurance paid for by Social Security beneficiaries and guaranteed by the government.
• Medicaid - income assistance and health care for poor people including migrant workers and immigrants.
• Pell Grants - providing deserving college students with tuition assistance.
• Food Stamps - this benefit helps all Americans because the money received by recipients goes directly back into commerce and the food purchased sustains many farm budgets.
• Veterans Benefits - support for those who have served our national defense, and, as a result, their dedication may have exposed them to life shortening experiences (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; Agent Orange, other toxin reactions, combat injuries and related disabilities).
• Infrastructure sustainability - funding for highways, bridges, airports and public safety projects that will expand access to trade and provide opportunities to create new jobs.
• National Wi-Fi networks - available everywhere, like electricity and clean water.  Internet commerce is essential to nearly every legitimate business; therefore, it's time for customers and businesses to have the ability to access the Internet, for free.
• Support for health related research - Americans must keep up with other developing countries, many of them already demonstrating rapid advancements in public health for the purpose of sustaining a healthy, viable and growing workforce. 
• Gun safety regulations - Preventable deaths by gun violence must be eliminated.  Guns really do kill people and Americans deserve protection from people who want to use guns for evil and incendiary purposes. Congress must pass sensible gun control regulations!

Surely, it doesn't seem like "rocket science" to focus the US Congress on how to improve its public opinion rating.  

Republicans are clearly responsible for this institutional disdain. Consequently, one can wonder if resistance to improving the disapproval is, somehow, weirdly strategic.  Does Congressional disapproval serve some unknown outcome, known only to the obstructionist Republicans?  One hopes not, but, who knows, for sure?

Certainly, with only a 10 percent public approval rating, the American people can't re-hire this ineffective group again. 

No business would keep this group on the payroll. In fact, any viable business would've already fired the entire bunch.  

Congress should legitimately be receiving unemployment benefits for only 6 months.  A Senator and Congressional member's annual salary is $174,000.  Surely, there are more qualified people worthy of this salary and care about will of the people, rather than obstructing progressive policies.  

Senator Olympia Snowe (Retired) and Texas Energy Tycoon Boone Pickens are Unlikely Bookend Pundits on Congressional Partisans

When Snowe-Pickens speak, maybe they'll draw a crowd!

Senator Olympia Snowe spoke with the Public Broadcasting Network (PBN) News Hour Judy Woodruff on April 2, about Congressional ineffectiveness, driven by partisanship.

"What is the purpose of public service? It's to solve problems for the people you represent...," Senator Olympia Snowe on April 2, 2013 News Hour.

(From the transcript) JUDY WOODRUFF: The past few years have seen more gridlock in Washington and politics nationally than at any other time in memory. From the fights over health care reform and the debt limit to the so-called fiscal cliff, the two parties have seemed like separate armed camps.  Is it possible for lawmakers to bridge the partisan divide?

Senator Snowe said, "....given the polarization that's occurred, and most exponentially over the last few years. It has truly gotten worse.  You could see the slow, steady erosion of what was happening and evolving. But it had clearly gotten worse to the point that we're no longer solving problems and most especially the big problems facing this country. So, I thought I could add my voice on the outside to encourage people to demand bipartisanship, to understand the value of bipartisanship and consensus-building in the political arena."

Move forward to the next day, on Wednesday morning's MSNBC Morning Joe with host Joe Scarborough:

....Texas energy czar Thomas Boone Pickens, Jr., known as T. Boone Pickens, spoke with brutal frankness about the "incompetent" US Congress. Pickens is an American business magnate and financier who chairs the hedge fund BP Capital Management."

Pickens is openly frustrated with the US Congress being unable to identify ways for the US to move forward with an energy policy using the nation's vast natural gas resources.  He called the Congress the largest group of incompetent people in the world. When pushed about whether or not there were any political leaders on the horizon who could offer the US a path of hope out of the incompetence, Pickens simply said, "...help me, you know politics better than I do...help me...."

A dedicated public servant like Senator Olympia Snowe is in agreement with Pickens, the rich and high profile energy advocate, about the same exact political dynamic.  Partisanship in Washington is dragging down our nation's ability to solve problems.

What Pickens fails to mention, however, is how the constituents of the elected Congressional representatives are driving this political divide.  Right wing voters want to support elected officials who will not compromise.  

Senator Snowe, on the other hand, addressed the constituent issue by suggesting changes in primary elections. She called for "open primaries" whereby  a broader spectrum of voters would elect candidates, as opposed to the current system where mostly ideological voters are driven to the primary process.

Snowe told Woodruff...."And what I have been saying in my speeches all over the country is that it's time for all of us to provide rewards for those who are willing to engage in bipartisanship and working across the political aisle and providing a political penalty for those who don't."

Snowe and Pickens may be unlikely allies in punditry, but amazing things can happen when polar opposites attract on the same political issues.  Imagine the power of a Snowe-Pickens "Fix Washington" stump speech campaign!  I suspect few people could resist the influence of these two successful and outspoken Americans, if they joined forces to remove obstructionists in Congress.  Let's hope Americans hear more from these two dedicated people as we look toward (sigh!) the 2014 elections.  

As fatigued as Americans are with Washington partisanship, we must gather the energy needed to oppose this divide.  Perhaps Snowe-Pickens can infuse their special brand of political oxygen into ventilating change in our flawed Democratic processes.