Shameful

See these guys running toward the gunfire? They Capitol Police officers and are currently working without pay, thanks to the shutdown.  They have wives and children, mortgages and daycare.  The work round the clock - putting themselves between Members of Congress and crazy people/terrorists - and Congress has the nerve not to pay them.  

The House of Reps had the balls to give them a standing ovation, but not the guts to the hard work of seeking an end to the situation.  Shame on them.

GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER, YOU ASSHOLES. YOU’RE RUINING IT FOR EVERYONE

Even at its most dysfunctional, I love our government.  I love our system.  I love our country.  I could not wait to turn 18 and be able to vote.

I do not love our current Congress, but until people start shooting at each other (ahem) or shutting down the government (ahem, ahem) I think it works pretty much the way it was intended.  Perhaps I'm too American, I have too much pride in our country, but I think we have it a lot better than 98% of the world.

As a woman, I am educated, I can control how many children I have and whom I marry.  I can work outside the home - hell, I can LEAVE THE HOUSE UNATTENDED and DRIVE MY OWN CAR.  I'm not circumcised.  My children attend school free of charge (well, it's paid for by property taxes, but it is still a lot cheaper than private school) and have access to vaccines and medication that keep them healthy.  It's a wonderful thing to be an American, at least it is in my humble opinion.

So, Congress, suck it up.  Compromise.  BOTH sides. Pass some spending bills.  Don't hold the system hostage.  Get over yourselves.  Do your fucking job.

*Title stolen from Jenny, Bloggess extraordinaire.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

The holidays are sneaking up on us and Congress is once again giving us its annual holiday treat: a budget showdown. 

Unlike the Showcase Showdown, the budget showdown sucks.  There are no winners, and everyone looks bad in the end.  Some might ask why they don't just cut a deal and leave town.  Elementary, my dear Emma Watson: it would deprive them of the opportunity to sling mud at each other for another month.  Or they don't want to return to their home districts and have to spend time with their families -- the holidays are stressful on family relationships, after all.  (Members of Congress, they're just like US!)

I should consider it a blessing that we don't take the Dynamic Duo on the road over the holidays.  Between the stress and expense of traveling around Christmas, as well as the lack of vacation time due to sick kids, we stay put in the Batcave through the new year.  This allows me to truly celebrate the season of love and joy by working through the holidays. 

Thanks, Congress!

Here's a treat, in honor of the turkeys, lame ducks, and chickens that represent the American public: