This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Jan. 4, 2013 - Dear Beaconites -- Would it be fair to say that members of the House and Senate acted like children before finally agreeing to step back from the fiscal cliff?
Over the last couple weeks, I couldn't help but notice certain uncanny similarities between the politicians who spent the holidays negotiating in Washington and the 3 year olds who spent the holidays at our house.
Consider their relationship with reality. Neither our elected officials or our grandsons seem to have a firm grip. A 3 year old may wish to go outside without shoes. Despite cold gusts and sprinkles of snow blasting through the doorway, he simply denies that his feet will get cold.
A member of Congress may wish to vote against a compromise that includes tax rate increases or spending cuts. Despite warnings from economists of dire consequences, he simply denies that going over the fiscal cliff will tank our tenuous economy.
Consider deadlines. Neither politicians nor 3 year olds seem capable of planning ahead. One grandson got fair warning of 10 minutes to brush his teeth so we could leave the house in time to catch the morning planetarium show. The ensuing standoff lasted so long that we had to scuttle the outing even though he especially had been looking forward to it.
Congress gave itself a deadline of some 17 months to avert the fiscal cliff. Yet when the ball dropped in Times Square, the Senate was just getting around to a vote. For a while on New Year's Day, it looked like the House wouldn't vote at all, though cooler heads eventually prevailed.
Consider egos. Both politicians and 3 year olds have trouble keeping their own priorities and the rest of the world in proper perspective. On Christmas Eve we gathered the family to share the Christmas story. "Everybody! Everybody!" cried one of the boys midway through the readings and carols. "We're almost out of chocolate milk."
Members of Congress are less amusing but no less obvious about their egocentricity. With reelection always top of mind and districts generally drawn to be dominated by one party, many politicians would rather maintain ideological purity than make compromises that serve the greater good.
You would of course expect 3 year olds to argue. But at our house, with timely intervention from parents, the spats passed quickly and the boys did a good job of sharing their new toys.
Lacking timely intervention by caring adults, members of Congress can get out of hand. "Go f--- yourself," House Speaker John Boehner reportedly told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid when the two crossed paths a few steps from the Oval Office. Does someone need a time out?
Is it fair to compare members of Congress and 3 year olds? On the one hand, both can be irrational, unreasonable and egocentric. On the other hand, the 3 year olds are charming, they learn fast and, at least to date, they've never asked for a campaign contribution. They deserve better than to be lumped in with politicians.
Sincerely,
Margie