Why is Congress so Dysfunctional? A Complex Problem Requires a Complex Answer

 

Why is Congress so dysfunctional? A complex problem requires a complex answer.

Tribalism: The U.S. Surgeon General’s, Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation reports an increasing lack of social connections poses a significant health risk. Stress caused by isolation and loneliness is the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day. With withdrawal, trust and social capital go down while societal divisions go up. As people become antisocial they become defensive, distrustful, callous, and hostile.

The American Enterprise Institute found that lonely people often fill their loneliness-void with politics and tribalism.  “Politics provides an easy way to feel a sense of purpose.” When one’s identity is defined by their politics, “a person’s moral stature is based not on their conduct but on their location on the political spectrum.” In other words, personal responsibility is replaced with hyper-politicization.

Well, I’m running down the road trying to loosen my load. Take it easy (The Eagles)

Immorality: We increasingly see immoral actions by elected officials. Not only do we tolerate what was once unacceptable, we’re applauding it with donations. For some, the worse they behave, the more they raise.

A Virginia State House candidate was exposed for performing sex acts with her husband, by request, online to raise money, “for a good cause.” When exposed she blamed Republicans for an invasion of privacy…”to humiliate me and my family.” Suggesting, “…there is no line they won’t cross to silence women when they speak up.” Congresswoman Boebert hit the news for being ejected from a public stage performance because the real and very public “performance” was between her and her date. Congressman Santos has been charged with stealing donor identities and fraudulent use of their credit cards. After resigning for surreptitiously taking photos of a young woman, Nebraska Unicameral Senator Groene retorted, “I did nothing wrong…I’m not gonna let the Democrats attack me and embarrass my family and my wife.”  Senator Menendez is facing charges of bribery, extortion, and conspiracy to use his office to act as a foreign agent.

Lighten up while you still can. Don’t even try to understand. Just find a place to make your stand. Take it easy.

Even political ads incorporate violence. Over 100 political ads featured guns during the 2022 midterm. Arizona’s Jim Lamon ran campaign ads gunning down his political opponent Mark Kelly despite Kelly’s wife, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords having been shot in the head. Earlier Sarah Palin ran an ad that focused a rifle scope on Giffords. Former Missouri Governor Greitens ran an ad wearing fatigues, kicking-in a door with gun in hand, and offering RINOs hunting permits. The Missouri Fraternal Order of Police condemned the spot saying, “This deplorable ad has no place in our political system and sends the message that it is acceptable to kill those that have differing political beliefs.” Finally, former President Trump is named in four pending felony suits and was convicted of sexual abuse, fraud, and misuse of charitable funds.

It’s no mystery why political trust is at an all-time low.

It’s a girl my lord in a flatbed Ford slowing down to take a look at me.

Distrust: The foundation of our model of self-governance depends upon trust. Since the 1970s, trust in the medical industry has fallen by 46%, organized religion has fallen 33%, the Supreme Court is down nearly 20%, banks and schools by 34%, and only 30% trust the media. Congress is down to 8% while the criminal justice system holds steady at 17%. Surprisingly, science tops the chart with the trust of 64% of Americans.

Fear: PBS reports that 83% of Americans feel our Democracy is under threat and only 9% believe the parties can work together.” Tellingly, 3 out of 4 say compromise is more important than standing on principle, and while a rudderless GOP House struggle for leadership, unlike Hastert, Boehner, Ryan, or McCarthy, Pelosi held her party together.

We may lose, and we may win. Though we will (probably) be here again, so open up I’m climbing in. Take it easy.

In November there’ll be another budget showdown. The House majority GOP can bow to MAGA radicals and default on creditors or they can reach out to Democrats and compromise: something a large margin of Americans support. Whatever they decide to do, it will be self-inflicted, somehow President Biden will be blamed, and your family will suffer the consequences. The lesson is that character matters more than ideology.