Posted on 09/15/2007 4:31:18 AM PDT by rhema
For Americans to talk so disdainfully about a "dysfunctional" government in Iraq is just a little on the cocky side.
The term was already common before early September, when a Government Accountability Office report said Iraq's Maliki administration had failed to meet 11 out of 18 benchmarks. Now it is part of everybody's vocabulary when referring to the Iraqi government.
So, we hear regularly of a government in Baghdad paralyzed by partisan ideology and strife. Sound a little familiar? Substitute the U.S. Congress for the Iraqi Parliament and substitute Republicans and Democrats for Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds, and things might not look all that different. Granted, we aren't running around blowing each other up with car bombs—but when it comes to productive legislation, can you honestly point to anything memorable coming out of Washington in the last two or three years?
"Reconciliation and unity" are laudable goals in and for Iraq, to be sure. But to the extent they seem elusive and hard to come by there, maybe we should reflect on the deep chasms that right now divide so many Americans. What recent developments can you point to here in America that even have the feel of "reconciliation and unity"?
Where, to be more specific, is the American leader, from any wing of any party, who has challenged us with a "come-now-let-us-reason-together" sort of approach? Isn't it true that we look more like the Iraqi factions than like a civilized entity trying to find a consensus?
So why, I ask, are we so forgiving of our own fragmented leadership in Washington while at the same time holding the fragile new Iraqi government to such an exacting standard?
This is not, let me make clear, just another "blame-America-first" screed or a "moral-equivalence" argument, claiming that the United States is no better—and probably a good deal worse—than other nations on earth, and that therefore we have forfeited the right to have opinions about what other nations do. I am profoundly thankful for America. I am thankful for its overall record for freedom, and for the overall way it has historically used its power and its influence.
I am not thankful for the current U.S. Congress—and it is in that narrow sense that I raise questions about our casual dismissal of the government in Iraq. How do we ask the beleaguered Iraqis to do what we find impossible for ourselves? Why do we so easily throw the "dysfunctional" label at their government when it is so increasingly clear that our own Congress may deserve it even more?
How do you measure the work of Congress? Just remember this little outline: Tax, spend, and defend.
Or a little more specifically, try this: Tax—a little; spend—less; and defend—a lot.
There is, of course, one other all-important assignment while doing those three things: Tell us the truth about what you're doing!
On all four assignments, the inclinations of the current Congress are headed in the wrong direction. The actual record is so muddled that it's hard to discern anything like a thoughtful set of policies. The pattern, though, seems to be: No restraints, except to handcuff the president on national defense.
Overall, it's worth noting, Congress' inclinations are wrong not just in principle—but also pragmatically. An early September Gallup poll suggested public approval for the current Congress had fallen to 18 percent, only half the admittedly miserable rating President Bush has been struggling under for the last year or so. Do the Iraqi people rate their government that unhappily? Failing 11 out of 18 benchmarks doesn't sound so great. But who in Washington can talk about meeting seven out of 18?
So who's dysfunctional? When Jesus told His followers not to worry about the speck in someone else's eye until they had taken care of the log in their own, maybe He had a logjam on Capitol Hill in mind.
Iraqi Parliament 11 of 18 = 39%
When Thompson wins, Democrat supporters may well do that very thing. They're already attacking people with axes (albeit, IIRC, only when they visit Holland )
No, and it is also significantly more corrupt.
And the Iraqi Parliament has an excuse: It is only a couple of years old.
That depends on what "work" you are speaking of.
If you are talking about doing the people's business, then the answer is a resounding NO!
If you are talking about Congresscritters of both bodies padding their own pockets, then I'd say both are doing quite well......
Also, whereas I often hear that we don’t belong in their civil war, I ask why not? Other countries helped both sides in our civil war. Washington is full of delegations and expats seeking help. We often take sides for freedom and against oppression. WE are not only invited but beseached to do so.
I will give congress a break when they truly address earmark reform. For now, they deserve our criticism.
About 1% of their proposed bills become law and they continue to buy votes with government money. Moreover, they continually vote for their own pay raises.
Sorry....no breaks.
Dysfunctional Hill: Does the U.S. Congress work any better than the Iraqi Parliament?
no way....jose!!!
spend—less;
defend—a lot.
After disgusting hearings of Gen. David Petraeus and Ryan Crocker by some representatives on Congress and Senate, it would be nice to see a full page advertisement about what the benchmark should be for both Houses and what they accomplished by now. I pulled out three what the author mentioned, but there are many more.
These self serving politicians are selling out the country!
Thanks for the post. Amen. This is another article that I wish every American would read.
If only our politicians carried the truth as Joel Belz does.
No....and the HATRED level is probably LOWER!
I am resigned to a Hildabeast presidency ,this witch has the clinton war room going strong as soon as a Republican says anything there is a retort from the Clinton Lie machine in minutes and that is what gets the press .
The Republicans dont have a thing to counter it ,This Moveon.org ad should spark a wide investigation into its tentacles all through the democrat party especially The Hildabeasts campaign .
Dont forget this organization began in 1998 to MOVE ON from the First Rapist in Chief ,when they were all making excuses for the pig from Arkansas.This is as Rush says a Clinton Front organization and that should be pounded home again and again, that is why the witch wont condem the ad . They do her dirty work and then she comes out and says Giuliani is the first to go negative . NO IT WAS YOU YOU LYING WITCH THROUGH YOUR MOUTH PIECES AND YOUR BROWN SHIRTS AT MOVE ON AND THE MULTITUDE OF ORGANIZATIONS RUN BY HAROLD ICKES BEHIND THE SCENES .
If the Republicans dont take on this secret police of Brown shirts they will be steamrolled ,Ickes that sleazebag and Carville run the smear machine in the background and Hillary acts like she does all the time , I dont know anything about that.
This "Reconciliation and unity" that this brain dead Congress and President are trying force down the Iraqi's throats is nothing but the failed policy of forced integration, through schools and housing, that our government tried to jam down our throats. These political types refuse to learn from history but then again, perhaps it's too much to expect from the current crop of losers running our nation.
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