I Just Love Gridlock - NOT!

What really is courage? Wikipedia says:

"Courage, also known as bravery, will, intrepidity, and fortitude, is the ability to confront fear, pain, risk/danger, uncertainty, or intimidation."

A little further Wiki says:

"Civil courage (sometimes also referred to as "Social courage") is defined by many different standards, but the term is usually referred to when civilians stand up against something that is deemed unjust and evil, knowing that the consequences of their action might lead to their death, injury, or any other negative effect."

We may not be in total Gridlock but as long as a particular political party votes to oppose every attempt to repair the economy we may just get there. It's a little like a group of people trying to douse a fire before it destroys their home (assume that it's a big home in Alaska and they all live there in winter to keep from freezing to death.) There is an ample supply of water to put out the fire if they act fast.the water is 150 feet north of the house and there are 30 people. Now assume sixteen of the people want to face west when they pass the buckets because they are Westerners. The other fourteen want to face east while passing the buckets because they are easterners. That might work fine so they frantically talk about how to form the lines. They even vote for several proposals. Since 53% vote to face west and 47% vote to face east the easterners refuse to go along.

Neither side budges but the leader of the Westerners presents a plan that they will alternate west then east etc. Since there are more Westerners to do this the one who pulls the water out at the beginning of the line must be a Westerner and the person throwing water on the flames must also be a westerner.

The easterners more concerned for their status in the community than giving in refuse on the grounds that they are not being respected and refuse to participate.

It is just to slow for the westerners to put out the fire alone but they try and just can't keep up with the fire and the house is lost. They all suffer that winter and many westerners and easterners die of frostbite and exposure. The easterners go to their graves proud of their courage in not wavering and sticking to their ideas. The westerners go to theirs saying they tried.

It wasn't just those who fought over the fire line that died it was also tall of their children and elderly parents who were too young or old to survive.

The moral is that Gridlock Kills.

"Why can't the politicians in Washington get together to solve problems we face every day?" As a governor recently told Congress, "Do something. Anything. Move."

Some say our politicians lack political courage. But that's not exactly it. They have plenty of courage to fight each other. But they lack the courage to put partisanship aside and work for the good of the country. ~By William D. Novelli Reprinted from the January 2008 AARP Bulletin

If this were truly a free country our representatives in government and those who support them would understand and do what is right with true courage. Party ideology and block voting only shows me how poorly server we all are these days. I haven't seen one Republican with the guts to stand up for their country and lead rather than follow the lemmings over the cliff.