I detest the news media's use of the term "rank and file" when referring to non ranking members of Congress. It's too easy, then, to equate them with "everyday Americans" and their workaday travails of being courted, pushed around or taken for granted by the "powers that be." Nothing could be further from the truth. Does Joe Six Pack find himself besieged daily by people who want him to throw portions of his family's budget their way? Yes, it's called advertising, but those advertisers aren't putting money into special accounts that the Famile Six Pack can use to win friends, influence people and make rules everyone else must follow. Plus, when Mr. Six Pack gets to feeling unappreciated at work, his only recourse is to crack a pop top and/or kick the dog. Congresswoman R&F can hold the whole goddamned electorate hostage if she's feeling particularly self righteous about a piece of legislation.
Granted, the average citizen doesn't have to sweat getting a majority of his co workers and customers to agree that he can keep his job every 2 or 6 years, so you won't be accosted with his mug plastered above every urinal in the bathroom and the doughnuts he keeps bringing to the breakroom won't be accompanied by a power point presentation of his merits. Then, you also won't hear said citizen crowing about being able to focus on doing a GOOD job now that they will be retiring next month. In both cases, congressional and Main Street, it would and should beg the question, "what the hell were you doing before?"
So much responsibility rests in their hands; the national coffers, the general welfare, defense appropriations, the naming of post offices. It's ridiculous to lower their status to just average nobodies when they were chosen by a bunch of nobodies to SPEAK for them. And, boy, can they speak! Given their behavior once in office, however, maybe their titles should be changed to more appropriate appellations like Minority Asshole or Assistant Narcissist. Just, please, don't call them "rank and file."
Granted, the average citizen doesn't have to sweat getting a majority of his co workers and customers to agree that he can keep his job every 2 or 6 years, so you won't be accosted with his mug plastered above every urinal in the bathroom and the doughnuts he keeps bringing to the breakroom won't be accompanied by a power point presentation of his merits. Then, you also won't hear said citizen crowing about being able to focus on doing a GOOD job now that they will be retiring next month. In both cases, congressional and Main Street, it would and should beg the question, "what the hell were you doing before?"
So much responsibility rests in their hands; the national coffers, the general welfare, defense appropriations, the naming of post offices. It's ridiculous to lower their status to just average nobodies when they were chosen by a bunch of nobodies to SPEAK for them. And, boy, can they speak! Given their behavior once in office, however, maybe their titles should be changed to more appropriate appellations like Minority Asshole or Assistant Narcissist. Just, please, don't call them "rank and file."
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