Fringe Benefits?
I don’t pay oodles of attention to the goings-on in the United States House of Representatives because for all intents and purposes there is little I can do about the mind-boggling shenanigans. But as a government shut-down loomed, I wondered if the scenario wouldn’t be drastically different if congressional paychecks would be the first thing on the chopping block should House members fail to reach an agreement to keep the government running. Even my representative, with whom I rarely agree, stated in his September 22 email update, “We are now only 8 days away from this deadline… without any progress made in the house due to the fringe of my caucus holding the chamber hostage.” (Italics are mine.)
This was the first time I felt like my representative actually represents me. I was pleased to know he recognized the “fringe” element of the House for the saboteurs they are.
I wasn’t really that worried about a government shutdown, although perhaps I should have been on behalf of the people who would feel the heat immediately—those who would be forced to work without pay, for instance. But while a delay in obtaining a passport or touring a national park might be inconvenient, I trusted the system would right itself at some point, and business-as-usual would resume.
I remember, as a federal employee, having my pay docked for a while. But I had savings enough to manage and knew the missing income would show up in my bank account in good time (which it did).
Hmmmmm. Doubtless, all those fringe members have ample means to survive a government shutdown—so nix the above plan to put representatives’ pay on the chopping block. That wouldn’t provide any benefit after all.
Now, don’t get me wrong—I firmly believe all Americans have the right to take a firm stand against policies or governmental action they strongly disapprove of, when they can clearly back up their rationale. But I could not see any righteous claims coming from this fringe. Their collective behavior was more like a young child who is so wound up in a tantrum he’ll even say “no” to his favorite ice cream, merely to stay angry and irritable, because that’s how you annoy the supervising adults.
And their behavior kept bringing me back to my disenchantment with our governor. While elections are often contentious, with people adhering to their candidates or party ideals come hell or high water, generally after an election the winner is solicitous of all the people served by the given office. But that was not my experience with Arkansas’s chief of state when she was newly elected. I remember, during her first days in office, her seething retorts about “woke liberals.” She made it clear she was not in office to serve people on the left. I was, essentially, disowned.
Our democracy is meant to serve all who take part. It’s intentionally set up to move slowly—to encourage debate and compromise. But not to grind to a halt because a congressional fringe feel deserving of what benefits them, to the exclusion of those who don’t think just like they do. The fringe want what they want, just because they want it. Even when it isn’t clear what they want.
I suppose we all want what we want, but most of us learn that not only is it nice to compromise, it’s practical.
Well, we’ve been granted a reprieve. I hope civility can rule during the next 40-some days before the next threat of a shutdown. But I’m not holding my breath.