The new congressional math

There was a time in Washington when decisions were based on what was best for the country. Senate and Congress once understood the demands of the voting public. We believed Washington took into consideration what we the people wanted. The ideals and solutions our nation’s representatives debated illustrated their inner-core belief. We trusted they would honor their campaign promises—after all, this is why we elected them. We had confidence in their resolutions for national and world problems.

The immigration circus does not add up. In Congress, 164 Democrats listened to the voters; only 36 didn’t. Those 36 Democrats joined 203 Republicans in Congress to push the immigration bill through to Senate. [The] 164 Democrats understood the seriousness of the immigration bill. No Republicans saw it that way. In the Senate, 37 Republicans and only 9 Democrats opposed the bill. This leaves only 12 Republicans and a majority of 41 Democratic senators that were in favor. The division in Washington does not calculate.

The Republicans in [the House] were for the immigration bill, and the Republicans in the Senate were against. The majority-Democratic House was against, and the majority-Democratic Senate was for it. In other words, 41 Democratic senators voted for a Republican bill. Talk about not being on the same page!

Politicians are now ignoring Americans. The leaders of this nation no longer need to satisfy their voters. They have brilliantly divided the nation’s voters to the point neither side will sway from their parties. This is where the politicians precariously control the voting citizen. We the people have become so hate-driven toward the other side we can no longer debate or even associate without exposing our loathing. Like them, we no longer vote for what is right; we elect to hate the other party. Our leaders have taught us well. How can we curse them for not supporting our best interest when we do the same thing. The only time politicians care for you is on election day.

If we don’t hang together, we will hang separately.

— Jerry Soesbee
Asheville

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